Harlem Word: Emmanuel Durham -- Helen B. Atkinson Center and health in Harlem

Emmanuel L. Durham, MHSA, Center Director of Community Healthcare Network Helen B. Atkinson Health Center discusses the work of the Helen B. Atkinson Center and the health issues affecting Harlem.

Emmanuel Durham has worked in the health care management field for over 20 years with experience in various specialties including pediatrics, HIV/AIDS, cardiology [1], and preventive medicine among others. He served as a member on the United State President health service team. Mr. Durham has worked as an Administrator in organizations such as National Institutes of Health, National Naval Medical Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Columbia University, and Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn.

Q: How did you become interested in health issues in Harlem?

A: I have an extensive background in health care but the reason why I became interested in Harlem's health care issues is because of the disparities and challenges that residents experience here. As an example, people living in Harlem have a four times higher chance of catching an STD than in the rest of the New York Tri state area. There are many other different challenges that we have. My focus is to ensure that our population is going to be served for the needs that we have.

Q: What do you do at the Center?

A: We offer a wide range of primary health care services and specialty services which include dental care, podiatry services, prenatal care, pediatrics, adult medicine, and family planning services, among many others. We also provide HIV counseling and testing for our community. Our Teens P.A.C.T. (Positive Actions and Choices for Teens), and TAP (Treatment Adherence Program) programs provide support to our patients who are going through difficult times. Teens P.A.C.T helps teens build self-esteem and reduce the risk for unintended pregnancies while TAP helps patients deal with problems related to their medication. Our commitment to caring for our community was recognized recently when we received a Joint Commission Accreditation. This recognition shows that we take health care seriously and provide quality healthcare.

Q: Could you tell us more about the Joint Commission Accreditation that your health center received? What does it mean for Harlem?

A: Joint Commission Accreditation is a stamp of approval that tells the community that our center not only provides quality health care but is a leader in the healthcare industry. The Joint Commission evaluates and endorses various health care organizations and programs across the country. It focuses on improving the quality and safety of care provided by these organizations. To earn and maintain The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval, an organization such as the Helen B. Atkinson Health Center is visited by representatives from the commission to make sure that quality standards are met.

Q: What are the major health problems and health care issues facing Harlem?

A: HIV rates in Harlem are on the rise, and we are concerned about the diabetes and obesity epidemics in this community. Statistics show that men and women are prone to other long term chronic conditions such as heart disease and kidney failure if their diabetes goes untreated. We are concerned about men not taking care of themselves so we established a men's health center to help young men and older men in the area. But our efforts are not only to take care of men and older mid-age people. We also offer many services to teens and adolescents with our Teens PACT program.

Another issue facing the Harlem community is economic challenges which can lead to poor health. We advocate for people who do not have access to health care by providing low cost health insurance. Representatives from insurance companies are at our center everyday to offer our patients affordable health care.

Q: In your experience, what are the three most important things people can do to improve their health?

A: To start, good nutrition can give you the biggest boost to wellness, along with physical activity and regular checkups. Just seeing your doctor on a regular basis is really a good way to sustain good, healthy living. Most health care providers will tell you that there is a direct correlation between seeing your doctor on a regular basis and maintaining a healthy life style. This is because by taking an active role in your health care and wellness you are likely to catch any sign of illness or disease before it becomes a serious problem.

Q: What are your goals at the center for 2024?

A: One of our main goals is to increase access to health care to our prenatal patients. We take part in New York State's Prenatal Care Access Program (PCAP). This program is targeted to lower income community members who might not have access to prenatal care because they are uninsured. In addition, a key goal for 2024 for the center is to begin offering pregnant women prenatal care through our Centering Program. The Centering Program offers a group of eight to twelve women who are about three or four months pregnant a place to talk to each other, learn from each other and support each other. This small group of women meets for two hours over ten sessions with a doctor who acts as a guide and group leader.

About Helen B. Atkinson Health Center
The Helen B. Atkinson Health Center (HBA) is named after Helen B. Atkinson who helped found the Community Healthcare Network and Harlem Welfare Mothers Family Planning, Inc. The center provides a variety of care to residents of Central Harlem.

Read more from Emmanuel Durham and Maryam Husamudeen by clicking the links below:

To listen to our interview with Emmanuel Durham, click here [5] for our podcast page.

Harlem Word is a series of interviews with community health experts written by HHPC and reviewed by our Health Advisory Board.