Introduction

Open Door's dedicated team of doctors, nurse practitioners, dentists, and clinical support staff seeks to provide excellent care in collaboration with our patients, involving their families and the broader community in the effort.

We strive to provide care that is accessible, comprehensive, coordinated, continuous, and attentive to the needs of the patient and the community. To this end, we employ a staff that has a depth and breadth of knowledge that allows them to work independently and in multidisciplinary teams to improve the health of the communities we serve. In part, this improvement occurs at the individual and family levels, but also on a broader scale through the care provided to the community and population groups. The expertise that we offer for individuals and their families includes management of a variety of common problems. However, no matter what health issues our patients face, we concentrate on improving their health, preventing future problems, and maintaining their quality of life.

Each patient and their family are assigned to a doctor or other provider who becomes familiar with their problems and in whom each patient can develop trust. Not only does every individual have a primary care provider, but they also have a small group of nurses, medical assistants and secretarial staff (we call it a module) that they will always see when they come for care. Each patient gets to know everyone that they meet when they come to Open Door.

Here are the services we offer:

Children

We provide a range of health care services at each of our four sites. In Port Chester, we provide these services in two school-based centers as well as in our regular offices. Board certified pediatricians, family physicians, and nurse practitioners provide expert and sensitive care.

Starting from care at birth, we help new and experienced parents cope and succeed with the developing needs and challenges a child presents. A program of routine immunizations, screening for diseases, and a full range of educational topics is designed to maintain children at their peak social, psychological, and physical well being. Our innovative 4-Our-Children Program screens all children for problems at home and at school, identifying those with potential difficulties and providing necessary mental health services before these issues can develop into real school or family problems. Adolescents who come to our practice find several physicians and nurse practitioners with special training and interest in adolescent medicine where they can build confidence in their provider.

Adults

Both men and women can receive preventive care and treatment of illnesses and acute problems at any of the four community sites. This care includes screening for common problems, and education to maintain health and prevent future illness. Board certified internists, family physicians and nurse practitioners provide this care.

Chronic Disease Management: Patients with chronic diseases such as asthma, hypertension, diabetes, and HIV benefit from our chronic disease programs. Each program includes: skilled physicians, case management (help with making appointments, getting tests done, and education about managing their disease), and the latest treatments recommended by national specialists.

Geriatrics: Older adults who come to Open Door find physicians trained in providing care which addresses the particular problems of seniors from physical disease to coping with diminished capacity to carry out the activities of everyday life.

Women's Health: Women of all ages come to Open Door for their annual checkups and gynecology problems. Family planning services are available for those seeking a method of birth control.

Medication at Low Prices for the Uninsured: For our patients without insurance that pays for their prescriptions (including Medicare.), Open Door offers, a special program to help them afford the cost of expensive medication. Our patients may purchase their medication at reduced prices at one of the local pharmacies in each Open Door community.

Pregnant Women

Open Door provides women with first rate prenatal care, available to everyone including those without insurance. The care is provided by five midwives and an obstetrician/gynecologist. Patients receive regular education, child birth classes, as well as case management to solve any problems they may be having with housing or transportation. Nutrition consultation and psychotherapy are available to anyone in this program. When the time comes to deliver the baby, the patient goes to the newly renovated labor and delivery floor at Phelps Memorial Hospital via transportation (if they want to use it) provided by the hospital. Upon arriving on the labor and delivery floor, the birth process is managed by the same team of Open Door midwives. In the rare event a problem arises, a team of obstetrician/gynecologists can be called in to manage any problem, including (when needed) Caesarian sections. After going home from the hospital, new mothers have the convenience of going to the same place (Open Door) for their care as well as their new baby.

Individuals In Need Of Specialty Care

Working families often cannot afford the cost of specialty care and insurance plans frequently do not provide coverage. On-site access to dental care, optometry, podiatry, nutrition services, dermatology, and general surgery consultation, provides access to these services while ensuring integration with primary care.

Oral Health And Dental Services

Our Dental Program is particularly robust and provides comprehensive oral health care. General and pediatric specialty dental services are available to all registered Open Door patients. With a staff of 6 dentists and 2 hygienists, Open Door provides preventive exams, fluoride treatments, sealant, cleanings, fillings, x-rays, root canals, extractions, dentures, periodontal treatment, and emergency services.

Children And Adults With Behavioral Health Needs

Open Door's mental health services provide enhanced integration and coordination of behavioral health and primary health services for adults and children. Psychotherapy conducted by certified social services, case management, psychiatric services including and medication are available to Open Door patients. Individual and group therapy sessions are offered.

Individuals Living With Or At Risk For Hiv/Aids

Open Door offers comprehensive primary care services to individuals who are living with HIV infection. Patients receive blood tests, counseling, help with housing and transportation problems, as well as recommendations for the right combination of medicines when the patient and physician agree it is the right thing. Each patient has a case manager who works with them to access various services. If a patient needs to see a specialist, arrangements are made to have the patient seen by members of the Designated AIDS Center at Westchester Medical Center with which Open Door is affiliated.

Open Door runs several programs to provide information to people whose behaviors may increase the risk of contracting the disease. Our staff is out in our communities on a daily basis, meeting with people (often whose busy lives prevent them from coming to Open Door), providing ways for people to minimize or eliminate their risk of infection. Open Door also provides HIV testing for those individuals who are worried they might be infected with the virus. Our trained counselors meet with each person and provide education about what the HIV test means. For those who decide to have the test, Open Door offers a rapid test which provides preliminary results within 40 minutes.

The Community At Large

Open Door is also actively involved in health promotion and outreach in all of the communities we serve. We also provide patient advocacy, assistance in applying for government-sponsored insurance and other assistance programs, transportation to and from appointments when needed, and pharmacy services.