Dr. J. Craig Charles and Shaylo Reyes, PA-C presented Affinity’s PrEP Program for Health Centers across the nation. The online presentation described how Affinity normalizes screening for HIV by using both opt-out testing for patients and our walk-in testing program. This creates opportunities to talk about HIV prevention including PrEP with the majority of our patients.

PrEP, or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, is currently one pill taken once a day to prevent HIV. Our patients taking advantage of PrEP receive follow up every 3 months and have access to our PrEP Navigator and Medication Access Coordinator for extra support. We’re proud to have the expertise of Dr. Charles and Shaylo Reyes, PA-C representing Affinity for this National Presentation.

If you’d like to know more about PrEP, talk to one of our Community Health Educators or Call 803-909-6363 to make an appointment to get on PrEP or become a new patient.

Affinity is proud to have three Board Certified Physician Assistants on staff. It’s National PA Week October 6-12 and a great time to meet them. (Pictured from left to right: Jaimie Cosby, PA-C, Kwanita Hunt-Scott, PA-C, Shaylo Reyes, PA-C.) Jaimie Cosby, PA-C, has recently joined Affinity and is our newest Physician Assistant. Jaimie is from Richmond, VA where she graduated from the University of Virginia before heading to Wake Forest University to attend PA School. She is looking forward to serving the Rock Hill community. Kwanita Hunt-Scott, PA-C, is a lowcountry native and a Medical University of South Carolina alumni. Kwanita enjoys working with women and youth. She has many talents spanning medicine through music and has been caring for patients at Affinity for almost a year. Shaylo Reyes, PA-C, hails from Puerto Rico and Washington Heights. She graduated as a Board Certified Physician Assistant in the first ever Masters graduating class at Lenoir Rhyne University. Shaylo enjoys caring for our Spanish speaking patients and has a passion for prevention and promoting the health of underserved communities.

National PA Day was first celebrated on October 6, 1987 in honor of the 20th anniversary of the first graduating class of PAs. October 6 is also the birthday of the profession’s founder Eugene A. Stead Jr., MD. This celebration has grown to span an entire week each October. There are more than 140,000 PAs in the U.S., practicing in every state, and in every medical setting and
specialty. According to research from the American Academy of PAs, half of PAs have tested, treated, or diagnosed COVID-19 patients. This year’s theme is “PA’s are essential”. PAs have been serving on the front lines of the current pandemic for months and are committed to encouraging our patients and the public to get their flu vaccination as we head into flu season.

National Health Center Week (NHCW) at Affinity Health Center usually involves group activities, cook-outs and even zumba classes. This year we went virtual for most of NHCW. We hope you were able to catch one of our virtual tours on social media where we engaged voters, got a sneak peek at our new dental service expansion and took a look from the frontlines of COVID-19 testing. If you missed them live, you can watch the videos on our Facebook page. Not everything is virtual, patients entering the building with appropriate coronavirus screening and precautions will be welcomed by our “Lighting the way…” display featuring how everyone at Affinity plays a part in “lighting the way for healthier communities today and in the future!”

Have you moved? While engaging voters, we found that many people had moved during the pandemic and needed to update their address on their voter registration. Prepare for the election now by checking your voter info at scvotes.gov while you have plenty of time to make updates and request an absentee ballot if needed. If you are 65 or older, disabled, a caretaker, or one of fifteen other reasons, you may qualify for an absentee ballot in SC. Check scvotes.gov/absentee-voting to see if you qualify and apply. If you need to register, text “Vote Health” to 34444. Affinity has computers in the lobby available for patients to connect to resources such as voter registration, job search, etc.

Affinity Health Center is a member of the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association (SCPHCA), the unifying organization of Community Health Centers throughout South Carolina. Community Health Centers are community-based, non-profit organizations that provide comprehensive, high-quality, patient-focused health care services in a culturally appropriate manner. With a focus on primary care, prevention, education, and case management. The SCPHCA has released the following statement underscoring the mission of Community Health Centers:

The year is 2020 and although we as a nation have progressed tremendously in all areas of technology, we are showing regression in justice for all.

The South Carolina Primary Health Care Association Board and staff wish to express our heart felt sadness and sympathy for the family and friends of George Floyd as well as for the many others who suffered and lost their lives because of racism and hatred.  Racism and discrimination of any kind is an injustice that can spread like wildfire if not immediately eradicated.

The Community Health Center (CHC) Movement was founded over 50 years ago during the civil rights era. Our heritage is based on social justice and health equity for all. Health centers know firsthand the impact racism and violence have on the country’s health status which directly impacts the country’s economic status. Our diversity of patients, staff, and board members are a testament to the value and positive impact diversity plays when you embrace it.

We understand that ALL lives matter, but when a subgroup of ALL have their lives taken because of the color of their skin, then it’s time–just as we’ve always done in health care when addressing health disparities–to place more focus on the subgroup experiencing unfair treatment; thus, Black Lives Matter.

We recognize that some of our leaders have voiced their outrage with the Minnesota tragedy.  We are now calling on all South Carolina leaders (local, state and national) without hesitation to publicly condemn the injustices that are overtly being committed in America.  Silence from any leader equates to agreement with these injustices that plague our country.

“Silence in the face of injustice is complicity with the oppressor.” – Ginetta Sagan

South Carolina health centers will continue the heritage and commitment of the CHC Movement to fight for social justice and health equity for all people. We are taking ownership collectively and individually to make change.

From the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association Board of Directors and Staff

Endorsed:  June 12, 2020

Affinity Health Center partnered with SC DHEC to provide free COVID-19 testing to more than 350 community members on Friday, May 22nd in York. Cars lined California St. all day to make their way to the testing tents at Clinton Chapel AME Zion Church. Some arriving hours before the start of the event to make sure they would have an opportunity to be tested for the SARS CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

Local dignitaries, Senator Mike Fanning and York Mayor Mike Fuesser were on site to kick off the event and stress the importance of testing in South Carolina’s rural areas. Thanks to the City of York Police Department, Clinton Chapel AME Zion Church, and Affinity staff members who braved the fickle weather to provide this needed service. We will be testing at the same location at 302 California St. in York this coming Friday, May 29th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. No appointment is needed and testing at this event is open to all whether or not they are having symptoms of COVID-19.

Symptomatic individuals can also access Curbside COVID-19 testing at our main location in Rock Hill by appointment. Call 803-909-6363 to speak with a screener.

Affinity Health Center offers new ways to see your provider by using your computer, mobile device or phone. These methods are secure and HIPAA compliant to keep your medical information safe. We may ask you to use one of these new appointment types to keep you safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your safety is our number one priority.

Can I Still Come in for My Appointment? We are limiting physical visits when possible. This helps to keep everyone safe by reducing the number of people inside the building. Many of our staff are working from home, maybe even your provider. We plan to remain open our normal schedule and will continue to see patients who need to come to the office or are unable to use TeleVisits.

I Need Help with My TeleVisit! We are just a phone call away. We might even reach out to you the day before to do a test run to make sure you are comfortable and everything works. Find more help for TeleVisits and the Patient Portal on our website: affinityhealthcenter.org/portal.

This post will be updated as information changes. Updated information is highlighted. Outdated information has been removed from this post to reduce confusion. Post updated January 19, 2022. 

Affinity Health Center is no longer a COVID-19 testing site. COVID-19 testing sites in South Carolina can be found on SCDHEC website.

COVID-19 vaccination is available by appointment or during designated vaccine clinic times. Call 803-909-6363 for details or to make an appointment.

We are asking our patients who think they may have COVID-19 to call first before coming in so we can best coordinate care. We can give you guidance over the phone about your visit. You may be able to you meet with your provider by TeleVisit. For more information about TeleVisits see our patient portal page.  Our Fort Mill location is permanently closed. Our York site is open Tuesdays and our Clover site is open Wednesdays & Thursdays. We will update this site when we have further information.

We are accepting new patients through TeleVisits. Call 803-909-6363 or pre-register on our patient portal to become a new patient.

 

Affinity Health Center Patients and Community Members,

Currently our state/country is experiencing an unprecedented health threat known as the Novel Coronavirus 2019 or COVID-19. This viral infection is passed like the viral causes of the common cold: through contact with a person who already has the illness, specifically through contact with mucous generated by coughing or sneezing.

And, like the common cold, this virus is very contagious and can be passed from person to person very easily by way of this contact. To guard against this illness, we all need to take care to wash our hands frequently and avoid touching our faces after coming into contact with others. It is recommended that everyone wear a fabric mask to protect others when in public spaces.

Currently, there is no known treatment for COVID-19 (just as there is no specific treatment for colds) and no available vaccination to help immunize people against this virus.

Fortunately, the majority of people who contract COVID-19 experience a mild illness characterized by fever, chills, cough and body aches.  Most people suffering from an infection with COVID-19 do not need to be seen by a healthcare provider at all and can self-treat at home with fluids, fever relievers (like acetaminophen or ibuprofen) and over the counter cough suppressants. 

A few people, especially the elderly and folks with serious chronic medical conditions like lung disease or heart disease, are at risk for complications of the virus.  These more serious illnesses are characterized by shortness of breath and respiratory failure; this type of illness will most likely lead to hospitalization for supportive care with IV medications, fluids and oxygen.

COVID-19 testing sites can be found on SCDHEC website.

COVID-19 Testing

It is important to understand that testing a person who is afraid that they may have been in contact with a COVID-19 carrier, but who has no symptoms of infection, is neither recommended nor necessary. Testing should only be done to diagnose the actual infection in a person exhibiting typical COVID-19 symptoms.

One very important goal in limiting the spread of COVID-19 is to keep a lot of people from contracting the virus all at once, because having a very large number of people getting sick at the same time is more likely to overwhelm our healthcare system.  Too many sick people all at one time will lead to shortages of things like hospital beds and ventilators, shortages which can lead to avoidable deaths.  The best way to limit the spread of COVID-19 is to practice what has been called “social distancing,” which means making efforts to keep people from gathering in large groups that might inadvertently spread the virus amongst them. This principle is the reason aggressive measures have been employed recently, such as the cancellation of the NCAA Basketball Tournament and the statewide closure of all SC schools. In addition to these efforts, people need to voluntarily avoid doing things that can put themselves at risk of contracting the virus, such as going out into crowded public places unnecessarily.  Also, people who are already ill should avoid going out and potentially spreading their illness (regardless of the cause) to others.  We all need to avoid shaking hands, a common standard greeting gesture, but one that can help spread viruses like COVID-19.  Coughing or sneezing into your elbow instead of your hands is a good idea; but a better idea is to avoid going out in public at all when you are sick. Staying at home until you are over your illness is the most important measure to follow.

If you have a respiratory illness with fever and cough or shortness of breath and are concerned that you might have COVID-19, you can get information from the CDC Coronavirus site,  South Carolina DHEC website or MUSC website.

Anyone having shortness of breath and/or showing low blood oxygen levels with our pulse oximeter will be directed to the local hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

Enjoy some photos from our 20th Birthday Party! Thank everyone who helped to make this a special event. Our storytellers brought our 20 year timeline to life. The tour guides made sure everyone got to see the facility and learn more about Affinity.  There was twenty years of awesome music, birthday cake, chili and best of all getting to see old friends, past employees and board members. Here’s to 20 more!

You’re invited! Join us in celebrating our 20th birthday on Thursday, February 27th from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Eat, drink, dance and remember 20 years of community health as you stroll with our storytellers down memory lane. We’d love to see old friends and new. We’ll be at Affinity Health Center’s main location in Rock Hill at 2455 Lakeshore Pkwy. See you there!