APRA funds and coordinates extensive chronic disease screening and treatment services at the First Street Health Center (FSHC), a primary
care facility supervised by Unity Health Care, Inc. The center offers primary care services to dually and triply diagnosed individuals who
are referred through APRA’s drug treatment programs and outreach services.
First Street Health Center -- DC Department of Health
70 N Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
Clinic Manager: Julie Aldridge (Unity Health Care, Inc.)
Telephone: (202) 727-0660
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Services
- Primary care, early detection and intervention
- Case management
- HIV/AIDS monitoring and
- Nutritional counseling
- OBGYN
APRA opened the FSHC facility in early 2002 to provide a specialized array of medical services to APRA patients in treatment, with emphasis placed on patients living with HIV/AIDS. This center was opened in partnership with the Department of Health’s (DOH) HIV/AIDS Administration (HAA), the Federal Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) and Unity Health Care, Inc.,
FSHC is co-located with the APRA Model Treatment Program and Central Registry Division (CRD) located at 1300 First Street, NE. The center also serves as an enrollment site for the DC Alliance Healthcare Program.
Substance abusers experience many barriers to care access, retention and adherence. Additionally, addiction is a disorder characterized by multiple relapses. Now, with the introduction of the First Street Health Center, seamless case finding and timely services link a system that integrates medical care, mental health and substance abuse treatment.
Early detection and intervention is paramount to positive clinical outcomes for all chronic illnesses, especially HIV/AIDS. FSHC ensures that substance abusers reached by Project Orion or in an APRA drug treatment program have greater access to competent clinical care. The center exemplifies APRA’s mission to extensively integrate substance abuse treatment, outreach and primary medical care.
