Taking Pride In LGBTQ+ Care

By Mikkel Hyldebrandt

As one of the largest providers of care for the LGBTQ+ community in Georgia, AvitaCare is improving its patient experience with the acquisition of AbsoluteCare. It is not only a refresh but an improved patient experience, according to Executive Medical Director at AvitaCare, Joel Rosenstock, MD, MPH, who underlines why it is essential to choose a pharmacy specializing in LGBTQ+ care.

First, tell us how you got started in this field.

My name is Joel Rosenstock, MD, MPH, and I am the Executive Medical Director at AvitaCare Atlanta in Buckhead. I established this clinic, formerly known as AbsoluteCare Medical Center and Pharmacy, in 2000 in an effort to offer choices to many people living with HIV who had limited options for care in Atlanta. The clinic has grown over the 23 years of operation to be one of the largest care providers for the LGBTQ+ community in Georgia.

Tell us about the transformation the medical center and pharmacy, now AvitaCare, has undergone in the last couple of months.

Avita Care Solutions acquired AbsoluteCare just over 100 days ago and has significantly improved the clinic’s patient experience. From a refresh of the office to moving the pharmacy to improve patient access, the excitement is palpable among the staff that Avita is dedicated to our community and is helping us continue the excellent service to our people and improve the patient experience.

What will the relaunch mean to those you serve?

Our clientele will see a difference in the ease of making appointments, simpler ways to get their medication refills, and improved access to their care team.

Why is it essential for the community to have a pharmacy specializing in LGBTQ+ care?

Having a pharmacy that is experienced in dealing with the LGBTQ+ population is essential in delivering compassionate, empathetic, and knowledgeable pharmacy services. Avita is experienced in delivering gender-affirming care in a nonjudgmental and open fashion.

What are some recurring challenges or disparities that LGBTQ+ people face concerning healthcare?

Stigma and inherent biases often hinder the care of the LGBTQ+ population. That never occurs at AvitaCare Atlanta and never will.

With the relaunch, how have you improved your healthcare options?

The community can more easily access the clinic, including our new walk-in STI clinic. Soon, we’ll offer a new outreach, testing, and connection to care for treatment and access to PrEP.

What do you hope to achieve with AvitaCare in the next year?

In the next year, we will continue delivering superb compassionate evidence-based care to our patients, increasing access with same-day STI screening, testing, and PrEP initiatives.

How can our readers get started using an LGBTQ+ pharmacy?

We are always open to accepting new patients. Readers can call for an appointment to transfer or start their care with one of our providers.

Call 404-231-4431. We are happy to see people looking to receive care for their HIV infection, those seeking gender-affirming care, anyone solely needing primary care for other comorbidities, and those seeking care in our Long COVID Clinic.

Anything you’d like to add?

The clinic has been around for almost a quarter of a century delivering empathetic, compassionate, non-stigmatizing care to people from all walks of life. The clinic has won awards and has been recognized as an HIV Center of Excellence by the Georgia Department of Public Health, and individual practitioners have been recognized as “Best of Atlanta.” We look forward to continuing this legacy in the future.

-Get started at avitacareatlanta.com.