TOMS RIVER – There were numerous organizations and businesses represented at the recently held PRIDE festival held in the township’s downtown area but Ocean Health Initiatives had a particular mission: to provide important health information and give vaccinations.
Members of the staff gave Johnson and Johnson as well as Pfizer vaccines. They also gave out rainbow hand fans and back packs that proved perfect for the warm afternoon of the festival.
OHI spokesperson Kristal Dias said, “we also have prep services and STI clinics during the week. We want everyone to know that we have these services available. We have vaccine available, health information, condoms and a lot of things today.”
OHI is a New Jersey 501 (c)3 non profit federally qualified health center which provides accessible and affordable health care to families in the area at its seven health center locations. OHI has centers in Brick, Freehold, Lakewood, Little Egg Harbor, Manahawkin, Manchester and Toms River.
“We have seven different locations and we have our school-based centers as well,” Dias said.
Dias noted that OHI’s two school-based wellness programs are at the Lakewood High School and Clifton Avenue Elementary School. OHI also has a mobile medical unit.
OHI’s patient portal allows registered patients to easily access their medical records and to schedule appointments with their OHI provider as well as to update your health information safely from the comfort of your home.
The portal also allows patients to receive communications from OHI regarding health and wellness.
Also present was Theresa Bello, PharmD, RPh Vice President of Quality Assurance and Enabling Services at OHI. Bello said that during the last several months OHI has administered over 20,000 vaccinations in the war against the coronavirus pandemic.
She said that was a combination of Pfizer, J&J and Moderna vaccines. “We were very heavy with the Moderna as that is the one approved first. We are here to support the LGBTQ community today as we offer services to Ocean and southern Monmouth County regardless of ability to pay. We are here to offer services such as PREP.”
Dr. Bello added that OHI also provides services for HIV and general services and “we are trying to meet people in the community where they are to help promote the vaccines.”
OHI provides primary and preventative care services including behavioral health, cardiology, chiropractic, dental, family medicine, internal medicine, nutrition counseling, pediatrics, pharmacy, podiatry, social services and women’s health.
Their programs include vaccinations, screenings throughout the year and colorectal cancer screenings, diabetes self-management courses, flu shots and free pregnancy testing.
OHI is recognized as a patient centered medical home and provides a health care system in which patients can conveniently get preventative services, see their physician on the day you become sick. They coordinate follow-up care if you are referred to the hospital or to another doctor. For more information visit ohinj.org or call OHI at 732-363-6655.
