Infectious Disease Associates

Through our outpatient practice, known as Infectious Disease Associates (IDA), MGH offers care for a variety of conditions caused by infectious diseases. They are described below:

General Infectious Disease Practice

In our general ID practice, we provide consultative, longitudinal care for a variety of infections including but not limited to:

• Post surgical infections
• Respiratory tract infections including pneumonia and sinusitis
• Recurrent or complicated urinary tract infections
• Tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections
• Skin or soft tissue infections
• Infections in patients with immunosuppression (such as transplant patients, patients on corticosteroids, patients with other underlying immune deficiency). Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV Infection is described below.

Our providers work together with your primary care provider (PCP) and other members of your treatment team. We communicate directly with team members in order to provide you with the best care possible.

HIV and AIDS Practice

The division of Infectious Disease at MGH has been providing care to persons living with HIV and their families since the beginning of the epidemic, now over 25 years ago. We are the primary care providers for the majority of our HIV-positive patients. We also follow patients who have other primary care providers (PCPs) as HIV consultants. Receiving an HIV diagnosis will impact you physically and emotionally and may also have major impact on the lives of your significant others and family members. We have organized our practice with one goal in mind: to provide you with state-of-the art, comprehensive, multispecialty, compassionate care. We deliver our care in partnership with you and your other providers, in a patient-centered and family-focused way, to ensure that you receive the best care possible.

Based on your individual needs, you can expect:

• A team of HIV specialists who are experts in the field, including doctors, nurses, social workers, and other health care professionals, who work together with you to develop a coordinated approach to managing your illness.
• A broad range of research studies including investigational treatments for your HIV and related problems.

Urgent Care

Appointments are available for clinic patients needing same day evaluation for an urgent medical concern. We ask that patients contact their primary nurse prior to coming to the clinic, so that we may assess your problem and minimize your wait time. (The primary nurse phone number will be provided for you at your first office visit). The triage nurse can help you determine if your urgent care needs would be best met here at the IDA, in the emergency department, or by another referral service. Typically, our urgent care hours are in the afternoon. As our staff of medical providers rotates coverage for urgent care, you may not be seen by your regular physician or nurse practitioner.

Laboratory Testing / Phlebotomy Services

We offer phlebotomy (blood draws) during clinic appointments. Sometimes you may be asked to come to the clinic outside of your regular medical appointment to have laboratory testing done. Hours for lab services are Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Lab visits are by appointment.

Registered Nurse Visits

If you have a scheduled appointment with one of our registered nurses, please inform the receptionist at the front desk. Nursing visits include injections, educational appointments, dressing changes, IV therapy appointments, or medication teaching. You will need your hospital registration card when you check-in.

Dermatology , Neurology and Psychiatry

Dermatology, Neurology and psychiatry consultation are available on site in our practice. The specialists that we work with have extensive experience working with individuals with HIV. If you have a scheduled appointment with any of these specialists, please check-in with the receptionist upon your arrival.

Acupuncture

Through a special arrangement with the AIDS Health Care Project, patients have the opportunity to be seen by an acupuncturist. If you have an appointment with the acupuncturist, you should check-in with the receptionist and take a seat in the main waiting room.

Nutrition

Our practice has a nutritionist who has expertise in issues facing persons HIV to offer evaluation and treatment for metabolic or nutritional issues.

Hepatitis C and HIV Co-Infection Program

Advances in medical treatment options for persons with hepatitis C continue to expand. For individuals with both hepatitis C and HIV, we have established a special program within the IDA Practice. Our team of hepatitis C clinical experts are available to evaluate patients who are interested in treatment, and to meet the unique medical and psychosocial needs of those electing to undergo treatment. The hepatitis C clinical team works in collaboration with your primary HIV provider to ensure that you receive the best treatment options available to you. Referrals to this program are made through your primary care provider.

HIV Research

As a global leader in the field of HIV research, our clinical research team offers a variety of different research opportunities for patients when appropriate. Our research focuses on understanding how HIV affects the body’s immune system and how best to treat HIV infection and related complications. In addition, we are conducting vaccine trials in order to develop safe and effective treatment or protection against infection. Finally our group studies the diagnosis and treatment of metabolic complications of HIV and its treatment. Please speak with your provider or one of the clinical research nurses to find out how you can become involved in a research study.

Sexually Transmitted Disease Unit (GID/STD Unit)

The Sexually Transmitted Disease Unit (Genito-Infectious Disease GID/STD Unit) at MGH is one of the largest STD centers in the Commonwealth. The unit provides screening, treatment, and counseling for the prevention and treatment of most sexually transmitted infections. Preventive hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines are available. The clinic also provides HIV antibody counseling and testing in two ways:

• The HIV antibody test can be performed by number rather than by name to help preserve your confidentiality. This method takes 1 to 2 weeks and requires that you return with your number in order to obtain the result.
• You can choose to have an HIV test using your name. This test result will be available much more quickly, and the results will be recorded in your medical record.

Walk-in Hours for the GID/STD Unit
MGH Cox 5
Walk-in hours:
Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings 8:30 - 11:00 am
Wednesday afternoons 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Appointment only:
Monday afternoons 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Wednesday mornings 8:30 am - 11:30 am

Chelsea Health Center, 151 Everett Avenue
Walk-in hours only:
Tuesday afternoons 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Thursday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 pm

Please refer to the website for up-to-date information. Clinic days and times are subject to change.

Everyone is welcome. Patients can be seen regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, although a voluntary sliding scale of payments is suggested. Although services are confidential, a blue hospital registration card is still required for check-in. STD information and fact sheets can also be obtained by visiting the Center for Disease Control web site at www.cdc.gov.std

Traveler's and Immunization Program

The Traveler's and Immunization Program provides patients who are traveling abroad the opportunity to receive preventive counseling and vaccinations that may be required for international travel. Some vaccinations require travelers to return for several visits and do not take effect for several weeks. If you plan on traveling abroad, please consult with us as early as possible to schedule your consultation prior to your departure. Also, please bring a copy of your proposed itinerary and past vaccination records (“yellow book”) with you.

Recommended vaccine information can be obtained through the following web site: www.cdc.gov

Transplant Infectious Disease and Compromised Host Program

The Infectious Disease Division has been a leader in the care of patients with altered immune function for over 20 years. Patients include individuals receiving organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplants, patients receiving immunosuppressive medications (such as corticosteroids) to regulate their immune systems, or patients with recurrent infections. The Transplantation and Immunocompromised Host Program integrates all aspects of clinical care, basic, clinical, and translational research, and education devoted to patients with immune deficits at Massachusetts General Hospital.

We provide preventive care including vaccinations, as well as consultation for patients within the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Social Services

As part of our comprehensive model of care, social workers collaborate with the rest of the team to provide services, addressing a variety of patient needs. Social workers are available to provide individual, couples and group therapy, addressing psychosocial issues that may arise. Referral to a psychologist, psychiatrist or mental health advanced practice nurse is available if necessary. If help is needed in identifying and caring for addiction issues, there are options both internally and externally to assist in this area. Additionally, there are several community-based organizations that can provide support with housing, food assistance, nutritional supplements, legal needs, transportation as well as many other services.

Access to medications and health insurance may also be a concern for you. There are many options for assistance in this area as well. Individuals may be eligible for the MGH full or partial free care program, which is government-funded assistance that helps to pay for medications and health insurance. In addition, assistance with insurance co-payments for medications is part of this program.

For access to other social service programs, please feel free to take a look at the social services web site: www.mghsocialwork.org

Viral Hepatitis Center

The Center for Viral Hepatitis is a joint Infectious Disease/Gastrointestinal Unit effort created to provide expertise and care to patients living with chronic viral hepatitis, including hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Clinical Care
The Center offers consultation and ongoing care for evaluation and management of chronic viral hepatitis with HBV or HCV, consultation and ongoing care for individuals with coinfections, including those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and immunizations against hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV), as well as other appropriate vaccinations.

Research:
The Center offers access to multiple clinical trials in conjunction with the Gastrointestinal Unit and/or AIDS Clinical Trials Group.