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Notification to patients from Dr. Gutierrez

December 28, 2023

Dear Vecino Health Centers patient:

This is to inform you that as of February 1,  2024, I will no longer be seeing patients at Vecino Health Centers.  I am resigning from my position with Vecino Health Centers.  It has been my pleasure to work here, and I appreciate the opportunity you gave me to work with you and your families.    

I want to encourage each of you to continue receiving health services at Vecino Health Centers.  We have an excellent team of doctors, counselors, and other health professionals who will continue to provide you and your families with the best possible care.  Your care at Vecino will continue seamlessly.  If you have insurance that requires you to list a Primary Care Provider (PCP), our staff will assist you to make the change to another of our wonderful Vecino doctors.

Once again, thanks to each of you for allowing me to be one of your doctors.  I truly value the trust that you have placed in me, and I hope you will continue to trust Vecino Health Centers with your health care needs.

Wishing you all the best of health!

Alondra Gutierrez, MD

713-674-3326

Getting blood pressure under control

Patients are reducing their risk for heart disease and stroke with help from Vecino’s Denver Harbor Family Health Center

Call 713-674-3326

to schedule an appointment

Texas has one of the highest rates of high blood pressure in the country. Patients at Vecino’s Denver Harbor Family Clinic in Houston can make an appointment for a screening and work with clinic staff to control their blood pressure.

High blood pressure is called “the silent killer.” And for good reason. Nearly half of all adults in the US have high blood pressure, which leads to problems like heart attack and stroke. But many people with high blood pressure don’t even know they have it. This is because it usually has no symptoms.  

High blood pressure is treatable, and staff at Vecino’s Denver Harbor Family Clinic want to help every patient get theirs under control. 

We already helped many patients lower their blood pressure. And we have the tools to help more patients do the same. 

With proper treatment and management, you can control your high blood pressure to help you live a long and healthy life.

How do I know if I have high blood pressure? 

Getting a blood pressure test is the only way to know for sure if you have high blood pressure. It is important to get a screening every year. A blood pressure test is a routine part of most medical appointments.

If your screening results indicate a potential issue, it’s important to follow the recommendations and take steps to get it under control and prevent issues before they become serious. 

Learn more about high blood pressure

If you have high blood pressure, you are not alone and there are many resources available to help.

What is High Blood Pressure Fact Sheet from the American Heart Association – English

What is High Blood Pressure Fact Sheet from the American Heart Association – Spanish

 

Vecino Health Centers Mitigates Impact of MOVEit Cyber Attack

Vecino Health Centers Mitigates Impact of MOVEit Cyber Attack

Patient medical records are not compromised, and patient care services are not impacted

HOUSTON, TX: August 7, 2023 — Vecino Health Centers announced today it was affected by the recent MOVEit cyber attack impacting several industries across the US and worldwide. The information impacted included names, dates of birth, and prescription dates for a segment of Vecino’s patient base. The incident did not impact any of Vecino Health Centers patients’ electronic medical records or compromise any patients’ social security numbers, bank account information, or other financial information.

“We take the safeguarding of patient information and, thus, the occurrence of this event very seriously” said Daniel Montez, CEO of Vecino Health Centers.  “Taking steps to prevent future attacks is an ongoing priority.”

Patients with information impacted by the breach are being notified by mail. Additional information on steps individuals can take to monitor and protect their personal information is provided. Patients who receive a bill or phone call seeking payment from anyone claiming to be representing Vecino Health Centers are encouraged to contact their home clinic — Denver Harbor Family Health Center or Airline Children & Women’s Health Center — to verify that the request is legitimate.

The cyber attack occurred on May 30, 2023 on a MOVEit server. MOVEit is a managed file transfer software program used by Harris Health. Vecino Health Centers shares information with Harris Health and thus was also affected by the vulnerability. On June 23, 2023, Harris Health informed Vecino Health Centers that our patient data was impacted. Harris Health has taken steps to help prevent something like this from happening in the future. Harris Health has implemented all patches that the provider of MOVEit has made available and taken other remediation steps to secure its MOVEit server and will continue to look for ways to enhance its secure file transfer protocols.

Individuals with questions can contact Vecino Heath Centers toll-free at 866-236-4316.

About Vecino Health Centers

Vecino Health Centers is a private nonprofit organization committed to making quality healthcare accessible and sustainable to the medically underserved in Houston. Established in 1999, Vecino is a Federally Qualified Health Center operating two community health centers in northeast Houston: Denver Harbor Family Health Center and Airline Children and Women’s Health Center.  

Denver Harbor Family Health Center welcomes Dr. Kaizeen Mody 

Vecino Health Centers is pleased to announce Dr. Kaizeen Mody’s arrival to the Denver Harbor Family Health Center staff.

Committed to women’s and maternal health

Trained as a family medicine physician, Dr. Mody comes to Denver Harbor after completing additional training through a fellowship in obstetrics. Obstetrics is a branch of medicine and surgery focused on childbirth and the care of women giving birth. She provides care to women before and during their pregnancy, delivery, and after birth and can be the doctor for their babies. 

“Women have such an important role in taking care of their families; they often don’t think about their health, ”says Dr. Mody. “It is important that they know how vital their health is to themselves, their families, and our community.”

Caring for patients through all stages of life

Dr. Mody looks forward to providing care to all family members. Her interest in medicine and community health care comes naturally. She is a sixth-generation doctor in her family and draws on particular inspiration from her grandfather, a beloved community family doctor.

“It’s special to be able to take care of people through all stages of their lives,” she says. “It is rare these days, especially in large cities like Houston.”

A multilingual doctor of osteopathic medicine

Dr. Mody speaks English, Spanish, and Gujarati. She earned her medical degree at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2018. She completed her residency in family medicine at Adventist Health White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, in 2021 and her obstetric fellowship at AdventHealth Family Medicine in Orlando, FL, in 2022.   

Osteopathic medicine is a branch of medicine dedicated to treating and healing patients as a whole, rather than focusing on one specific condition or body part. Read more about osteopathic doctors.

“We are very fortunate to have Dr. Mody on the medical team,” says Dr. Enjoli Benitez, chief medical officer of Vecino Health Centers. “Her commitment to patient care and expertise in women’s health are invaluable in improving the health of our patients and the community.” 

Teaching other doctors

Besides treating patients, Dr. Mody is passing her expertise on to other doctors as a faculty member of the Houston Methodist Family Medicine Residency Program, located at Denver Harbor Family Health Center.

Accepting New Patients

Dr. Mody is currently accepting new patients.
Call 713-674-3326 to make an appointment.

What’s the difference between a DO and an MD?

Some doctors have MDs after their names, others have DO. Like MDs, DOs are fully licensed physicians trained to diagnose, treat and prevent illnesses and medical conditions. Keep reading to learn about the similarities and differences between a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) and a medical doctor (MD).

What is an osteopathic doctor (DO)?

Like MDs, DOs go to medical school, where they spend several years learning how to care for patients of all backgrounds and ages. Osteopathic medicine is dedicated to treating and healing patients as a whole, rather than focusing on one specific condition or body part. As part of their medical training, DOs learn to look beyond your symptoms to see how your lifestyle (i.e., diet, physical activity, emotions, stress levels, etc.) impacts your health and well-being.

DOs have extra education, usually about 200 hours, to learn osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). It is also called osteopathic manipulative technique (OMT). DOs learn how bones, nerves, and muscles work together and influence people’s health. OMM focuses on methods to relieve back pain, neck pain, strained muscles, and other conditions.

DOs practice in all medical specialties, including family medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, surgery, and many more. After graduating from medical school, they train in the same internship/residency specialty programs as their MD colleagues. They take the same exams to quality to practice medicine. 

DOs are fully trained and licensed doctors

Both DOs and MDs are equally qualified to diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication. As a matter of fact, other than having different letters in their name tags, most people can’t tell the difference between an MD and a DO when receiving care. 

Vecino Health Centers’ doctors, whether DO or MD, are dedicated to your and your family’s good health. Our doctors provide care to patients of all ages, including infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Some of the services they provide include diagnosing and treating illnesses and injuries, health screenings and tests, immunizations, prenatal and postnatal care, and helping your with lifestyle changes to prevent health conditions before they develop. 

Prediabetes is preventable and reversible

Are you at risk for prediabetes?

Take the one-minute test to find out if you or someone you care about is at risk for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.

Prediabetes is common. Most importantly, it is preventable and reversible with early detection and simple lifestyle changes.

Are you at risk for prediabetes?

Schedule a Checkup Today!

Screenings for diabetes and prediabetes are part of your healthcare checkup.

New patients are welcome!

While many people know that type 2 diabetes is a serious health concern, far fewer people know about prediabetes. Prediabetes is a serious but reversible condition that affects 84 million —more than 1 in 3 — American adults.

Nearly 90% of people with prediabetes don't know they have it

If you are African American, Hispanic/Latino American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American, or Pacific Islander, you are at higher risk for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

People with prediabetes have much higher than normal blood glucose levels but are not high enough yet to be considered type 2 diabetes. Basically, when you have prediabetes you’re on the road to developing type 2 diabetes and are also at increased risk for other serious health problems such as stroke and heart disease. 

Prediabetes can be prevented and reversed

But it’s not all bad news. With the right steps, prediabetes can be prevented and even reversed. The first step is to find if you’re at risk. 

Are you at risk for prediabetes?

Take the one-minute test to find out if you or someone you care about is at risk for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.

If you score 5 or higher, you’re at risk for having prediabetes and are at high risk for type 2 diabetes. However, only your doctor can tell for sure. It’s important to schedule an appointment to talk with your doctor so you can get support and start taking steps to prevent or delay prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.

Fight the flu

Flu vaccinations are included, at no additional cost, with checkups at Denver Harbor Family Health Center.

Flu vaccines are also free to patients who have already had a checkup this year. Call to schedule a nurse visit. 

Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season. Flu vaccine can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, hospitalizations and has been shown to be life-saving. Fight the flu and get vaccinated!

fight the flu, vaccination
Will a flu vaccine protect me against COVID-19?

No. Flu vaccines do not protect against COVID-19. Flu vaccination reduces the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death in addition to  other important benefits.

Likewise, getting a COVID-19 vaccine is the best protection against COVID-19, but those vaccines do not protect against flu. Visit the CDC’s Frequently Asked Questions page for information about COVID-19 vaccinations.

Can I get a COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine during the same visit?

Yes, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine at the same time. If you have concerns about getting both vaccines at the same time, you should speak with a health care provider.

What to do if you think you or someone in your family has the flu

If think you or your children have the flu, make an appointment to see a doctor at the clinic or online through telehealth. This is especially important for pregnant women, young children, and people over 65. New patients are always welcome at Vecino Health Centers.

Flu symptoms

Symptoms of the flu include:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Body aches
  • Headaches
  • Chills
  • Fatigue

And finally, if your doctor says you have the flu, take your medication and stay home! People are usually contagious for 24 hours after a fever is gone.

Schedule an appointment today at Vecino’s Denver Harbor Family Clinic. Call: (713) 695-4013

We accept Medicaid, CHIP, and other insurance. Assistance is available for uninsured patients.

Unemployed or uninsured?

Don’t worry. Vecino Health Centers offers financial assistance so everyone in your family can get the checkups and other care they need. You may even qualify for other benefits, we’ll help you understand your options.

Just ask about our Get Care program

Vecino receives national recognition for quality

Vecino receives national recognition for quality

Congratulations to Vecino’s Denver Harbor Family Health Center staff on this national recognition for the third consecutive year!  This award is a tribute to the dedication of Denver Harbor Family Health Center and Airline Children & Women’s Health Center employees.

HRSA Gold-Tier Health Center Quality Leader

Vecino Health Centers (Houston Community Health Centers, Inc.) has received the 2022 Health Center Quality Leader award at the Gold Tier by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). 

Performing in the top 10% of health centers nationwide

This award marks the third year Vecino has received the gold tier recognition. The gold level is awarded to Health Center Quality Leader recipients achieving the overall clinical performance in the top 10% of health centers nationwide. 

Locally, Vecino is the only Federally Qualified Health Center in Houston and one of only eight health centers statewide to receive the quality leadership award at the gold tier in 2022.

“This recognition is a tribute to the entire staff and the level of excellence we have achieved in serving our patients and improving their health outcomes,” says Daniel Montez, chief executive officer. “We are committed to a vision of Houston becoming the healthiest city in the country.”

Additional award for optimizing access and quality of care

Vecino also received an Advancing Health Information Technology for Quality award. It signifies that services are optimized to increase access to care and advance the quality of care, including telehealth, patient engagement, interoperability, and the collection of social determinants of health.

Providing quality healthcare services to patients at two locations in northeast Houston.

Vecino Health Centers provides quality health care to the medically underserved in northeast Houston in Harris County, Texas, through Denver Harbor Family Health Center and Airline Children & Women’s Health Center and outreach at six school-based sites

Winter 2022 Health News from Vecino Health Centers

In celebration of National Nutrition Month, Dr. Enjoli Benitez is sharing her favorite lentil soup recipe! 

You’ll find it and more in the first issue of Shine! Health News from Vecino Health Centers. It is available to view and download now in English and Spanish.

Notification to patients

Dr. Zeerak Qureshi and Dr. Magdalena Brooks will be moving on from Vecino Health Centers as of April 1, 2022. We are grateful for their contributions and patient care and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

If you are a patient of Drs. Qureshi or Brooks, we look forward to providing a smooth transition to another excellent provider for your medical care. Please call 713-674-3326 at your earliest convenience and we will assist you.