Respectful and Equitable Access to Comprehensive Healthcare (REACH) Program
The Respectful and Equitable Access to Comprehensive Healthcare (REACH) Program provides a patient-centered, harm reduction approach to primary care for persons who use alcohol and other drugs, and for individuals living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
Co-located within Mount Sinai Hospital’s Internal Medicine Associates, REACH provides comprehensive primary care services, including office-based buprenorphine treatment, stigma-free risk reduction counseling, HCV treatment, overdose response training, and psychosocial assessment and support including support groups. The REACH model of care uses patient navigators to coordinate services and guide patients through the complex health care system, thereby removing barriers to accessing quality care and treatment. REACH also conducts community HCV education and testing.
Our mission at the REACH Program encompasses four goals:
- Provide comprehensive and stigma-free care and prevention services to our patients and our community.
- Develop best practices and tools for healthcare providers and provide trainings to disseminate these.
- Conduct research and contribute to scientific advancement in the field.
- Engage in advocacy that informs and advances policy to promote health equity.
Testing
REACH conducts rapid HCV antibody testing and confirmatory HCV RNA testing in the community, as well as education about HCV infection. We link anyone found to have chronic HCV to appropriate medical care and treatment.
Treatment
REACH takes a multidisciplinary, team-based, harm reduction approach to primary care for persons using alcohol and other drugs, including buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder. We also provide comprehensive treatment of HCV infection, behavioral health evaluation, and referral to treatment for persons living with substance use and/or mental health conditions. We are able to provide services to patients who are not English speaking. Most health insurance plans are accepted including most managed Medicaid plans.
Through the New York State Department of Health HepCAP Program, REACH provides HCV-related medical care for patients who do not qualify for health insurance, including undocumented persons.
Support Groups
REACH offers a weekly harm reduction group to discuss the use of alcohol and other drugs (Wednesdays 4-5pm) and a monthly support group for persons living with, or cured of, chronic HCV (second Tuesday of the month 5:30-7pm). Both groups are free and open to the public.
Overdose Response Training
REACH offers opioid overdose response training and free naloxone kits to individuals in our community and medical providers. We are accredited through the New York State Department of Health to operate an Opioid Overdose Prevention Program.
Research
REACH conducts quality improvement projects and clinical research and has developed innovative tools for health care providers and patients in order to improve treatment outcomes. These include:
- The Psychosocial Readiness Evaluation and Treatment for Hepatitis C (PREP-C; PrepC.org)
- The HepCure Toolkit (HepCure.org) developed in collaboration with the Mount Sinai Division of Liver Diseases and the Mount Sinai AppLab.
Meet our Team
Michael Herscher, MD
Keith M. Sigel, MD
David Skovran, NP
Linda Wang, MD
Jeffrey J. Weiss, PhD