Case Study: Wellness Homes of Chicago
Wellness Homes of Chicago
SECTOR:
Offering same-day MPOX testing since the start of the outbreak (one of the first labs in the country to do so) through partnership with Wellness Home. Preventing the spread of MPOX and minimizing uncertainty around the new illness.
Healthcare
Chicago, IL
LOCATION:
KEY ACHIEVEMENT:
Wellness Home is an organization providing health and wellness services at six locations in the Chicagoland area, as well as through several mobile programs. Wellness Home is focused on health equity strategies to provide affordable, accessible healthcare regardless of a patient’s background or social determinants, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community.
When the MPOX (previously referred to as MPV or Monkeypox) outbreak reached the United States in May 2022, there was uncertainty and confusion around how the illness spread and how it could be prevented. Vaccines and testing options were not yet available. Dr. Brownlee, DBA, APRN-FPA Chief Wellness Officer and Medical Director., was searching for solutions to protect his patients and to minimize the stress and uncertainty that was beginning to affect the community.
OPPORTUNITY
Recognizing a community need for MPOX detection, Neelyx Labs became one of the first laboratories to develop and validate a clinical testing solution. The test was designed using advanced technology to achieve a same-day turnaround time, allowing patients to have reliable and rapid access to their results. Dr. Brownlee and Wellness Home decided to partner with Neelyx Labs to participate in groundbreaking science and to receive the quickest results possible for their patients. They remain a valued partner to this day.
SOLUTION
QUALITY
Sample Prioritization
Every effort is made to prioritize all MPOX samples that enter the laboratory. We go above and beyond to test these samples according to the most accurate detection methods currently available.
Science Liaison Service
Amidst a constantly changing scientific landscape, we work to stay informed of the latest developments in MPOX science and communicate their implications for patient care to Dr. Brownlee.
Staff Training
We provide free MPOX sample collection training and education for all interested Wellness Home staff. We also provide ongoing clinical advice for anything related to sample collection.
INNOVATION
Cutting-Edge Science
We share our latest, most innovative MPOX diagnostic solutions with Wellness Home, including our MPOX PCR test which was one of the first to be developed in the United States.
Resource Optimization
Keeping in mind the supply chain shortages that affected laboratories early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, the MPOX testing methods that we offer to Wellness Home utilize readily available resources that are widely accessible.
Participation in Research
Wellness Home participates in our clinical trial for a saliva-based MPOX PCR test, which will allow us to offer early detection of MPOX in the future to patients regardless of whether they present with lesions.
SERVICE
Community-driven R&D
We decided to develop an accurate detection method for MPOX because community organizations like Wellness Home needed a testing solution. We designed our MPOX PCR test keeping community needs as the first priority.
Rapid Results
Results are always delivered to Wellness Home patients the same day that the laboratory receives the sample. We made this commitment to allow patients to access the care they need quickly, and to limit worry in a time of uncertainty.
No-Cost Testing
We recognize that many individuals face financial barriers in accessing healthcare, so we offer no-cost testing to make sure that affordability is not a factor when patients decide to test with Wellness Home.
“When MPOX cases were on the rise and we were beginning to understand how to most effectively detect it, I knew I needed a reliable lab who would stay up-to-date with the science. I couldn’t be happier with my decision to partner with Neelyx - one of the first in the country to offer an MPOX test. I am looking forward to eventually sharing the findings of our study on earlier ways to detect MPOX. I’m thrilled that my patients can now access cutting-edge testing and participate in advanced clinical research- all at no cost.”
— Dr. Maurice Brownlee, DBA, APRN-FPA - Wellness Home Chief Wellness Officer and Medical Director
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