Washington Health Institute

Clinical operations:whi is proud to provide a comprehensive array of essential healthcare services, including primary care, behavioral health, infectious disease specialty care, case management, and clinical research for residents in the dc, md, va metro area. We offer convenient, on-site comprehensive testing and treatment for patients with suspected infectious diseases, including hiv, hepatitis-c, and sexually transmitted infections (stis). We also offer long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis (prep) & post exposure prophylaxis (pep) to prevent hiv infection. Whi has a red carpet appointments (same-day) scheduling system for individuals who are newly diagnosed with hiv or re-engaging in hiv care regardless of ability to pay. Whi's community health and wellness center houses a case management team (including patient health navigators, psychosocial support specialists, non-medical case managers, and medical case managers) that will work with patients to proactively resolve any barriers to care, including lack of insurance.additionally, whi provides care centered around women's health, weight management, behavioral health, and wellness. Access to patient care is provided in person and via telehealth. We serve over 8,000 patients across the dmv area and the organization is rapidly growing to meet community needs. The organization has two sites in washington dc, one site in the michigan park/brookland neighborhood (northeast dc) and a location in dupont circle (northwest dc).

Community health and wellness centerwhi community health and wellness engages individuals with on-site social workers who provide comprehensive psychosocial assessments and works with patients to create a unique treatment plan to enhance their health and overall wellbeing. Operating under health resource service administrations (hrsa) ryan white hiv/aids program, we offer medical and non-medical case management services; medication adherence counseling; health insurance navigation; free or reduced cost medicine; referrals for transportation, food, financial benefits, housing, employment, substance abuse treatment; and more. Whi community health and wellness center seeks to address the important needs of patients outside of just medical treatment to support the well-being of the whole person.

Clinical trials:whi strives to bring the cutting edge of drug development and advanced therapies to our communities through participation in clinical trials. Whi has partnered to conduct clinical research trials with multiple major pharmaceutical companies such as gilead sciences, gsk, viiv, moderna, pfizer, and american gene technologies and atea pharmaceuticals. It is the hope of whi that by conducting clinical research in our under-represented and under-served communities, we can diversify the face of medicine and pharmaceutical-based care and bring change for the betterment of all. This program has also helped bring new technologies to the organization including the addition of radiologic imaging and fibroscans, a non-invasive liver cirrhosis assessment tool.

Eis program:the early intervention services (eis) team at washington health institute provides targeted outreach to residents of washington, dc and prince georges county, maryland who are at increased risk for hiv infection. Eis provides rapid hiv testing, hiv and sexual health risk-assessment counseling, and safer-sex materials (including prep, pep and safe sex supplies) to those seeking hiv-prevention services. Additionally, eis helps connect existing whi patients to services and resources as part of its non-medical case management team to help improve the quality of life and holistic health of patients. From july 1, 2023, to june 30, 2024, eis served 597 unique individuals.syndemic program: whi's syndemic team provides targeted hiv, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections testing to residents of washington, dc via the whi mobile unit. The syndemic program refers to a public health strategy that addresses the interconnectedness of multiple health conditions, substance use disorders, and mental health issues. From july 1, 2023, to june 30, 2024, the syndemic team procured a whi mobile unit, which served 217 unique individuals.the dc cohort grant:led by the george washington university milken institute school of public health, the dc cohort is a longitudinal research project that collects clinical data from approximately 19,000 consenting people with hiv receiving care at fifteen hiv clinics in the district of columbia. The dc cohort is sponsored by the national institute of health (nih) and the national institute of allergy and infectious diseases (niaid). The primary project goal is to improve the quality of care and treatment of people with hiv receiving care at large clinics in the district of columbia. Under the dc cohort study, there are smaller projects, including the molecular epidemiology sub-study, covid-19 sub-study, patient reported outcomes sub-study, aging sub-study and more. The dc cohort contributes to the research of emerging issues in the prevention, treatment, and long-term effects of people with hiv. The project's scientific objectives are to contribute to the knowledge regarding people with hiv and their treatment through evaluating the outcomes of hiv treatment regiments over.other programs:whi is focused on other key areas of treatment that take a holistic approach to health and patient well-being. Our programs include infectious disease care, primary care for our patients, telehealth visits, prevention of hiv and sti's, on-site phlebotomy services, a mobile unit, peer support groups for patients, and a wellness program.