Mobile Care Health Brings Judgment-Free Testing, Treatment to Denver
The COVID-19 pandemic and the current monkeypox outbreak have highlighted the urgent need to address health inequity for the underserved.
According to numerous studies, LGBTQ+ populations are critically disadvantaged when accessing health care services and are designated as a medically underserved population.
Mobile health care is on the rise, and during the pandemic vaccination buses, pop-up testing centers, and mobile clinics traveled to those in isolated and underserved areas.
Telehealth also increased astronomically, and is now a quarter-trillion dollar business.
Due to the specifics of sexual orientation and gender identity, obtaining optimal health outcomes for LGBTQIA folks in the American health care system can be precarious.
"When was the last time you casually mentioned attending an orgy or being fisted to your provider?" asks Dr. Jacob Weinstein of Mobile Care Health. "Probably never. We can help with judgment-free care, without the eye rolls. Let's talk about fisting and a plan that works with your sexual lifestyle."
Based in Denver, Colorado, Mobile Care Health offers primary care, urgent care, mental health, sex-positive mobile concierge medicine, and telehealth across 20 states. Whether that's a kidney stone late at night, PrEP care, psychotherapy, or MSM (men who have sex with men) seeking monkeypox diagnosis or treatment, as a gay man, Dr. Weinstein is well-versed in how health impacts our community.
Dr. Weinstein, or Dr. Jake as he is known, completed his Masters of Nursing at Georgetown University and obtained a Doctorate of Nursing from the University of South Alabama. He started Mobile Care in 2016 to provide optimized healthcare in the comfort of your home or office, with a special focus on LGBTQ+ care.
"No more taking off the morning from work for lab draw," said Dr. Jake. "Need an annual exam, PrEP visit, urgent care, hormone balancing or functional medicine consult? No problem. We provide all those services mobile or telehealth. Second, we offer services that actually reduce your risk of injury or illness, including cardiovascular and osteoarthritis risk reduction, and cancer screenings. Mobile Care Health brings safe and effective testosterone and estrogen to patients. Our functional medicine division includes food sensitivity testing, peptides and weight management that works."
Mobile Care is also responding to the current health crisis caused by the monkeypox virus.
"The virus is spread through direct contact with infectious rash, scabs or fluids," said Dr. Jake. "It may also be spread through respiratory droplets during kissing, touching clothing that was exposed to the virus, and/or transmission from mother to baby. This makes the virus easy to transmit during sexual activity, especially with unprotected sex."
While a vaccine (Jynneos) is available, supply is limited. "Currently the Colorado Department of Health (CDPHE) has exhausted their stock and we are awaiting a new shipment of vaccine. Patients who are interested should sign up on the CDPHE website," Dr. Jake said.
In the meantime, Mobile Care Health has reached out to clients regarding ways to prevent monkeypox transmission, including not having sex with infected persons and not sharing clothes, cups, and utensils with infected persons.
"The good news is Colorado has 36 reported cases as of July 21, and patients who are sexually active took advantage of the vaccine early. Unfortunately, because of the mode of transmission, slut-shaming and stigma has once again popped up for the gay community. In a post-COVID world and especially in the Denver area, the level of advocacy has been amazing. Mobile Care Health advocates for prevention through vaccination, post exposure prophylaxis and early treatment when indicated."
Monkeypox aside, Dr. Jake says wider health services often shame gay men who are seeking PrEP, and straight doctors may not be aware of the specific health risks for gay men, including prostate, testicular, and colon cancers.
Mobile Care Health is also tackling the LGBTQ+ mental health epidemic with treatments involving ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Currently, ketamine is the only legal psychedelic available to mental health providers for the treatment of mental illness. Mobile Care Health brings a therapist to your home and ketamine with a medical provider. "Therapy at home allows patients to be more comfortable and eliminates the need for a ride home after ketamine" according to Dr. Jake.
"We know that LGBTQ folks have suffered repeated trauma and have a higher incidence of mental health issues," Dr. Jake said. "Thankfully we have been able to help patients with telehealth over the past few years. Our mental health services have recently expanded to include in-home ketamine therapy for patients. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy or KAP uses small doses of ketamine combined with licensed and experienced mental health professionals for treatment. Mobile Care Health offers KAP treatment from the comfort of your home. We bring the therapist and the ketamine to patients for successful treatment of depression, PTSD and anxiety."
"Happiness is not a destination," Dr. Jake said. "We do not arrive there or set it as a goal. Everyone has glee, frustration, sadness, anger, denial, happiness, and many more emotions in their life. Happiness is a place we get to visit throughout our lives. You are entitled to happiness. What that means is different for each person. I hope to help improve your health and in turn your visits to happiness are more frequent."
For hormone replacement, Mobile Care Health offers testosterone injections, troches, creams and pellets. Hormone balancing improves the sex life, mental health, energy and interpersonal relationships for patients.
"Health care is about the care of your health, not about me telling you what to do or not do," Dr. Jake said. "I serve as a guide in helping people achieve the goals they have for their health. Healthcare should be collaborative between patient and provider and not judgmental. We want our patients to take charge in their health, have ownership in the decisions we make together and ultimately improve the quality of their physical and mental health."
Mobile Care Health operates in the Denver metro area providing expert care 24/7. Telehealth is available in over 20 states and counting. Scheduling an appointment or dealing with an emergency are just a phone call or text away. And if you're curious about the standard of care, get started with a free consultation.
"As a gay man, I understand the pain in coming out to your provider, the eye rolls, and having to explain PrEP to a medical professional. I want to hear about your entire lifestyle, extracurriculars, and all. This helps me take better care of you."
Learn more at www.mobilecarehealth.com.