Fenway Health

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Rolls Out 100 Proud Bluebikes in Celebration of Pride Month

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 1, 2023
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BOSTON , June 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of Pride Month, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts ("Blue Cross") is rolling out 100 rainbow-themed Bluebikes to help drive awareness for LGBTQIA+ equality during the month of June. The Proud bikes will be available across the Bluebikes system's 13 municipalities (Arlington, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Newton, Revere, Salem, Somerville and Watertown). Blue Cross is the sponsor of Bluebikes, which is owned by the municipalities and operated by Lyft.

Key Points: 
  • For every ride taken on a Pride-themed bike in June, Blue Cross will donate $1 to Fenway Health to support LGBTQIA+ health care
    BOSTON , June 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of Pride Month, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts ("Blue Cross") is rolling out 100 rainbow-themed Bluebikes to help drive awareness for LGBTQIA+ equality during the month of June.
  • Blue Cross is the sponsor of Bluebikes, which is owned by the municipalities and operated by Lyft.
  • "At Blue Cross, we remain committed to contributing towards a more equitable health care system for all," said Jeff Bellows, Blue Cross' vice president of corporate citizenship and public affairs.
  • *Blue Cross will donate $1 up to $10,000 for every ride taken on a Blue Cross Proud bike from June 1 - June 30, 2023.

The Fenway Institute Paper Shows National Tele-Education Program Expands Access to Transgender and Gender Diverse Health Care

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 27, 2023
LGBT, Primary health care, HIV, Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy, Community Healthcare Network, Extension, Social, Project Echo, SM, Patient, Practitioner, Physician, Knowledge, TGD, Mental health, Healthcare and the LGBT community, Fenway Health, Nursing

BOSTON, March 27, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A paper published in LGBT Health reports on the outcomes of TransECHO, a professional development and training program for primary care teams on the provision of gender-affirming integrated medical and behavioral health for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) patients. The paper suggests that TransECHO has helped fill gaps in training on TGD primary medical and behavioral health care.

Key Points: 
  • The paper suggests that TransECHO has helped fill gaps in training on TGD primary medical and behavioral health care.
  • "To minimize these disparities, medical and behavioral health providers need access to robust continuing professional development on gender-affirming health care."
  • TransECHO is based on Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), a tele-education program for health care providers designed to reduce health disparities and increase access to specialty care in underserved areas.
  • "Given the persistent inequities in health outcomes experienced by transgender and gender diverse patients, access to high-quality professional development and training in gender-affirming health care is a necessity for medical and behavioral health providers," said study author Hilary Goldhammer, SM.

New Study from The Fenway Institute Undercuts the Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria Hypothesis

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 20, 2023
National Center for Transgender Equality, Risk, Gender identity, University, Suicidal ideation, Transgender, Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy, Parent, Policy, Disclosure, Gender variance, Health, Economist, JAMA Surgery, Public policy, ROGD, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on neurological, psychological and other mental health outcomes, History, Health policy, Bentham Science Publishers, Puberty, Journal, Assistant professor, Publication, Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Adolescent health, Division, The New York Times, Manuscript, Psychiatry, Adolescence, Realization, Transgender youth, Turban, Faculty, TGD, Healthcare and the LGBT community, JAMA Psychiatry, Female, Fenway Health, Toy, Nursing, Science, Pediatrics

BOSTON, March 20, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that a substantial proportion of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adults realized that their gender identity is different from their sex assigned at birth during adolescence or later. It also found that TGD people typically waited many years before sharing this realization with another person. The study adds important new knowledge to clinical and popular understanding of the timing of TGD people's awareness, understanding, and sharing of their gender identity. It also undercuts a core component of the "rapid onset gender dysphoria" (ROGD) hypothesis, which posits that TGD identities realized in adolescence are transient and will not continue into adulthood.

Key Points: 
  • The study adds important new knowledge to clinical and popular understanding of the timing of TGD people's awareness, understanding, and sharing of their gender identity.
  • It also undercuts a core component of the "rapid onset gender dysphoria" (ROGD) hypothesis, which posits that TGD identities realized in adolescence are transient and will not continue into adulthood.
  • Participants were also asked how old they were when they first shared their gender identity with another person.
  • Published in Pediatrics, that study provided evidence undercutting the "social contagion" component of the ROGD hypothesis.

Burns & Levinson Attorney Kat Delos Reyes Named to Board of Directors of the Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Boston Children's Museum, University, AAPI, Central Steering Committee on Anti-corruption, Burns, Hospital, Science, Boston Children's Hospital, Fenway Health, Jen Delos Reyes, University School, Committee, IP, University of California, Riverside, Northeastern University School of Law, YLC, Intellectual property, Nursing

BOSTON, March 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Burns & Levinson attorney Kat Delos Reyes has been named to the Board of Directors of the Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts (AALAM), which serves the Asian American legal community and seeks to improve and facilitate the administration of law and justice.

Key Points: 
  • BOSTON, March 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Burns & Levinson attorney Kat Delos Reyes has been named to the Board of Directors of the Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts (AALAM), which serves the Asian American legal community and seeks to improve and facilitate the administration of law and justice.
  • "I joined the AALAM Board because I wanted to give back to the AAPI community," said Delos Reyes.
  • At Burns & Levinson, Delos Reyes is an intellectual property and IP litigation attorney who focuses her practice on trademark, copyright and data privacy law.
  • In addition to her work with AALAM, Delos Reyes is a Co-Chair of the Steering Committee (YLC) of Fenway Health.

The Fenway Institute finds disparities in health and health care access between sexual minorities and their heterosexual counterparts did not change from 2013-2018

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Fenway Health, Equality, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, JAMA Internal Medicine, CQD, Health status of Asian Americans, LGB, Pernicious, Relative key, Harvard Medical School, Vanderbilt University, National Health Interview Survey, Research, Health, Letter, Male, Female, Policy, Equality Act (United States), Public health, Marriage, National Health, Community mental health service, NHIS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Nursing

BOSTON, Feb. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A research letter published today in JAMA Internal Medicine finds that differences in health status and health care access between sexual minorities and their heterosexual counterparts did not change from 2013 through 2018. Disparities persisted despite substantial policy, legislative, and sociocultural shifts recognizing the constitutional right to marriage equality and increasing public support for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) issues.

Key Points: 
  • The study found that nearly all subgroups of LGB adults in the United States reported higher levels of poor or fair health status, functional limitation, severe psychological distress, and difficulties with health care affordability than their heterosexual counterparts.
  • "Health inequities are driven by minority group stress and multifaceted societal marginalization.
  • "Health Status and Health Care Access Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in the US, 2013-2018" was authored by researchers at The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard T.H.
  • Chan School of Public Health, and Vanderbilt University and contributes to the growing body of evidence demonstrating that societal marginalization is a persistent driver of health inequities.

The Fenway Institute and NORC - Older LGBT+ Adults Have Higher Rates of Kidney Disease than Heterosexual Peers

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 13, 2023
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Woman, Journal, NORC, Diagnosis, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Health policy, Medicare, Behavioral risk, Fenway Health, Incidence, Housing, Health, University, Diabetes, Research, Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Risk, Hypertension, Kidney disease, CMS, Chronic kidney disease, Society, Prevalence, BRFSS, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, Kidney, Dietary supplement, Pharmaceutical industry

BOSTON, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- According to a new study by researchers from NORC at the University of Chicago, The Fenway Institute, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), sexual minority (LGBT+) men and women over age 50 are more likely to have kidney disease compared to their heterosexual peers.

Key Points: 
  • In addition, the study found a higher incidence of risk factors for kidney disease—smoking, activity limitations, adverse health outcomes, and limited access to health care, housing, and employment—among older LGBT+ people.
  • "Even after adjusting for demographics and risk factors, older gay and bisexual men were nearly twice as likely as older heterosexual men to report a kidney disease diagnosis."
  • Despite well-documented disparities in chronic kidney disease risk factors such as diabetes and hypertension in LGBT+ adults, there have been limited studies examining kidney disease prevalence in this population.
  • NORC analyzed BRFSS data from 2014 to 2019 to determine self-reported kidney disease prevalence in LGBT+ older adults (50+) compared to their heterosexual peers.

Community Technology Cooperative (CTC) Completes Implementation of Epic at Ten Massachusetts Health Centers

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 1, 2022
Health, Technology, Health Technology, Other Technology, Other Health, COVID-19, General Health, COVID-19, Legislature, Housing, Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Public health, EHR, American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Thomas D. Boston, ACO, Food, Community, Patient, ARPA, Electronic health record, Acos, FQHC, Health equity, Health information management, COVID, CTC, Collection, Commonwealth, Chairperson, Federally Qualified Health Center, Investment, Fenway Health, Medicine, Pharmaceutical industry, Health, C3

Community Technology Cooperative (CTC), the organization formed to help Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) improve health and equity for under-resourced communities through technology, today announces that ten FQHCs throughout Massachusetts have officially transitioned to Epic, the most widely-used and comprehensive electronic health records (EHR) system, after a yearlong implementation phase.

Key Points: 
  • Community Technology Cooperative (CTC), the organization formed to help Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) improve health and equity for under-resourced communities through technology, today announces that ten FQHCs throughout Massachusetts have officially transitioned to Epic, the most widely-used and comprehensive electronic health records (EHR) system, after a yearlong implementation phase.
  • Making investments in health centers means making investments in community health, said Representative Michael Moran (D-Boston).
  • Community health centers have stood out as champions in their response to the public health emergency and reached those most in need.
  • Community Technology Cooperative ( CTC ) is a subsidiary of C3 formed to help improve health and equity for under-resourced communities through technology.

Fenway & Callen-Lorde editorial published in Annals of Internal Medicine calls for greater engagement of trans & gender diverse people in health care decision-making

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Education, Transgender, The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA Pediatrics, Policy, National, Patient, Pediatrics, Workforce, Internal medicine, History, Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance Research and Education Amendments of 2001, Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy, Cautionary Tales, Fenway Health, Johns Hopkins Hospital, TGD, Annals of Internal Medicine, Mentorship, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, Fenway Park, Gender minorities and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Medicine, Gender identity, Lancet, Research

BOSTON, Oct. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- An editorial published in the Annals of Internal Medicine asserts that all aspects of gender-affirming care must be informed by and led with the voices of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people. The editorial draws on information from a new history of the closure, in 1979, of the Gender Identity Clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital that was also published today by the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Key Points: 
  • All aspects of gender-affirming care must be informed by and led with the voices of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people.
  • BOSTON, Oct. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- An editorial published in the Annals of Internal Medicine asserts that all aspects of gender-affirming care must be informed by and led with the voices of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people.
  • The editorial draws on information from a new history of the closure, in 1979, of the Gender Identity Clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital that was also published today by the Annals of Internal Medicine.
  • "All health care organizations should adopt well-established practices to train their staff in mitigating anti-transgender bias and creating culturally inclusive health care settings."

The Fenway Institute Offers Recommendations for Improving Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Rates in US

Retrieved on: 
Sunday, October 2, 2022
Adult, Wart, ACIP, Health, Safety, Sex, LGBT, Anal cancer, COVID-19, Woman, STI, Vaccination, HIV, Population, Life, Loyola University Chicago, Loyola University, Stritch School of Medicine, Patient, White, Fenway Health, Fenway Park, Advisory Committee, Human papillomavirus infection, Vaccine, Head, Federally Qualified Health Center, Gender identity, HPV, Stockholm Environment Institute US Center, Research, Ageing, Parent, PDF, Human, Awareness, Man, Neck, Policy

BOSTON, October 02, 2022  /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A policy brief published by The Fenway Institute at Fenway Health offers recommendations to health professionals and policy makers on how to improve Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates in the U.S. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the world. Approximately 79 million Americans, most in their teens and early 20s, are infected with HPV despite the widespread availability of a safe and effective vaccine since 2006.

Key Points: 
  • But vaccination rates remain far below optimal rates of coverage, especially among male-identifying individuals.
  • There are other disparities in vaccination rates across populations of varying sexual and gender identities, as well as race and ethnicity.
  • The policy brief, titled "Improving Human Papillomavirus vaccination rates in the U.S.: Recommendations for health professionals and policy makers," addresses barriers to HPV vaccination, including the politicization of vaccines, sex and gender-based stigma, medical mistrust, misinformation, and insufficient provider recommendation.
  • "Improving Human Papillomavirus vaccination rates in the U.S.: Recommendations for health professionals and policy makers," is available for download as a PDF here .

Fenway Health Provides Blueprint for More Effective Federal Response to Monkeypox

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Health policy, World, Therapy, Fenway Health, Sex, COVID-19, Policy, Epidemic, FDA, Food, Defense Production Act of 1950, Social stigma, Research, Association, World Health Organization, Vaccination, HIV, Health communication, Contract, Face, COVID, Patient, Defense, MPP, Senate, Technology, Vaccine, Public health, Solution, Sores, Doctor of Philosophy, Smallpox, BBC, Monkeypox, Congress, Man, Skin, Food and Drug Administration, NIH, Education, Color, Disease, Death, Pharmaceutical industry

BOSTON, Sept. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- As U.S. monkeypox diagnoses top 21,000 amid the federal government's failure to contain the initial outbreak of the virus in May, Fenway Health has released a policy brief that offers solutions to a range of problems that have exacerbated the spread of the virus.

Key Points: 
  • "We have stockpiles of medications to treat monkeypox, effective vaccines to protect us from the virus, and effective testing.
  • The U.S. has failed to contain monkeypox by failing to effectively mobilize existing public health infrastructure to aid communities affected by the virus.
  • Due to poor health communication, many providers and patients are unaware that treatment for monkeypox is available.
  • Finally, Congress must appropriate funding for the monkeypox response and for research to better contain and eliminate the virus.