Near North Health Provides Early Intervention Services to Diagnose and Treat STIs
Chicago – April 9, 2023 – Evaluations for possible exposures to sexually transmitted infections (STI) comprise a significant number of patient encounters at Near North Health (NNH), one of Chicago’s largest community-based health care providers. During National STI Awareness week, NNH emphasizes the importance of prevention for those who are not actively infected, counseling, and guidance.
Get the Facts About STIs
Awareness of STIs is critical to maintain a patient’s well-being. The Centers for Disease Control notes that false assumptions about STIs – how they’re spread, prevented, and treated – make it hard for people to get the facts. STIs can affect any person at any age. But the CDC notes that all STIs are treatable and that most are curable.
“Frequent, repeated, and untreated episodes of STI’s can impact a vast number of physical capacities from fertility to general bodily functions that we take for granted including urinary and gastrointestinal functioning,” said Dr. Dan Vicencio, Interim Chief Medical Officer at Near North Health. “There can also be devastating consequences for cardiovascular, immunological, musculoskeletal, and neurological systems in our bodies.”
NNH Resources and Key Questions for Patients Seeking Help for STIs
Near North Health provides access to needed diagnostic and preventive healthcare services in areas of Chicago with demonstrated need. The NNH Early Intervention Services Program provides services to more than 150 patients at any given time in the spectrum of HIV prevention, disease diagnosis, active disease treatment, and monitoring.
Dr. Vicencio suggests patients consider asking themselves several important questions to prevent the potentially life-altering consequences of STIs.
- Do I consider myself sexually active or am I considering becoming sexually active?
- Do I know my present HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C status?
- If I am sexually active, what precautions am I taking to reduce my chances of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection?
- Am I experiencing any out of the ordinary genital or urinary symptoms?
“For example, Syphilis can affect the cardiovascular and neurologic systems, causing significant damage to existing organs such as the heart, nerves, and brain. Even locally limited sexually transmitted diseases can severely impact a person’s ability to have children or impact the ability of a woman to carry a healthy baby,” Dr. Vicencio said.
Dr. Vicencio also noted that Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) severely limits the effectiveness of a person’s immune system, in effect rendering them unable to fend off even the most innocuous infections. Often those infections lead to significant physical disability and ultimately death.
Near North Health provides access to needed diagnostic and preventive healthcare services in areas of Chicago with demonstrated need, with dedicated providers and support who bring healing, hope, and dignity to patients in their quest to improve themselves and their health.
About Near North Health
Near North Health is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and one of the largest providers of community-based primary health care in Chicago. We provide medical services, social services, and nutrition education to uninsured and underinsured individuals and families. Our philosophy reflects a commitment to providing access to innovative healthcare no matter where one comes from, what they look like or how long it’s been since they last saw a doctor. Additional information about our mission and services is available at www.nearnorthhealth.org.
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