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CPCA Believes CHCs Are Best Model to Distribute Vaccine

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CPCA Believes CHCs Are Best Model to Distribute Vaccine

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A physician in Los Angeles, Dr. Gilbert Varela is a family medicine practitioner with 26 years of experience. In addition to his work caring for patients, Dr. Gilbert Varela served as a member of the California Primary Care Association (CPCA) for over 10 years, an organization that advocates for community health care centers (CHCs) and regional clinic associations that provide comprehensive care for underserved and low-income communities.

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A physician in Los Angeles, Dr. Gilbert Varela is a family medicine practitioner with 26 years of experience. In addition to his work caring for patients, Dr. Gilbert Varela served as a member of the California Primary Care Association (CPCA) for over 10 years, an organization that advocates for community health care centers (CHCs) and regional clinic associations that provide comprehensive care for underserved and low-income communities.

In February 2021, CPCA, in a lettr to Governor Newsom, urged the office to consider an equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine through CHCs. The letter written to the governor's office stated that it believed that CHCs were the best solution for distributing the vaccines because of their vital role in ensuring patrons of these centers have access to healthcare.

As it stands, CHCs provide care to 7.4 million California residents. These residents comprise a high percentage of essential workers and people who are from diverse communities.

The organization is concerned that equity will not be a priority in vaccine distribution. CPCA also wants the governor's office to understand that these communities have a higher burden related to this particular disease. CHC's health care workers are highly-trained and equipped to help people in these communities, and especially experienced in dealing with systemic racism and poverty, making them an ideal place to distribute the vaccine.

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CPCA Believes CHCs Are Best Model to Distribute Vaccine

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A physician in Los Angeles, Dr. Gilbert Varela is a family medicine practitioner with 26 years of experience. In addition to his work caring for patients, Dr. Gilbert Varela served as a member of the California Primary Care Association (CPCA) for over 10 years, an organization that advocates for community health care centers (CHCs) and regional clinic associations that provide comprehensive care for underserved and low-income communities.

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Dr. Gilbert Varela earned a degree in medicine from the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. As a member of the California Society of Addiction Medicine, Dr. Gilbert Varela is dedicated to treating people with substance use disorders (SUDs).

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Dr. Gilbert Varela earned a degree in medicine from the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. As a member of the California Society of Addiction Medicine, Dr. Gilbert Varela is dedicated to treating people with substance use disorders (SUDs).

Many individuals self-medicate their depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues with substance use or alcohol use. Substance use, for whatever reason, becomes less of a choice with time. Long-term exposure causes brain functions to shift, and the user loses control. SUD affects the regions of the brain involved in learning, memory, and behavior control.

Treatment for SUD is administered in two primary settings: inpatient and outpatient. Inpatient care is for intensive treatment; outpatient care is for non-intensive treatment. The main objective is to get the persons with SUD started in the most effective but least restrictive setting and then move them along a continuum of care as their requirements change.

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Dr. Gilbert Varela earned a degree in medicine from the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. As a member of the California Society of Addiction Medicine, Dr. Gilbert Varela is dedicated to treating people with substance use disorders (SUDs) . Many individuals self-medicate their depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues with substance use or alcohol use.

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Gilbert Varela, MD, has served as the president and chief executive officer of Alliance Health Systems in Los Angeles, California, since 2014. He expanded his professional activities in 2017 by establishing Varela Medical Group, a private practice emphasizing industrial and personal injury cases. In addition to his work with Alliance and in his private practice, Gilbert Varela engages with professional organizations such as the California Society of Addiction Medicine.

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Gilbert Varela, MD, has served as the president and chief executive officer of Alliance Health Systems in Los Angeles, California, since 2014. He expanded his professional activities in 2017 by establishing Varela Medical Group, a private practice emphasizing industrial and personal injury cases. In addition to his work with Alliance and in his private practice, Gilbert Varela engages with professional organizations such as the California Society of Addiction Medicine.

With more than 700 members, the California Society of Addiction Medicine (CASM) is the largest state chapter of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). The organization provides members with a range of educational opportunities, including a biannual Addiction Medicine Review Course that allows medical professionals to consistently refresh their addiction medicine knowledge. The review course alternates with the biannual State of the Art Conference, which focuses on the latest discoveries and techniques in the field.

An accredited provider of continuing medical education (CME), CASM also maintains a Public Policy and Advocacy program and a leadership development retreat, providing members with all of the knowledge they need to effectively address addiction treatment at their practices and throughout their communities. More specialized educational services include journal clubs that facilitate intimate discussions on the latest clinical topics and research.

CASM also offers CME-approved webinars, training and scholarship programs, and a newsletter that notifies members of various topics of interest. To learn more about CASM's educational offerings, please visit www.csam-asam.org.

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Gilbert Varela , MD, has served as the president and chief executive officer of Alliance Health Systems in Los Angeles, California, since 2014. He expanded his professional activities in 2017 by establishing Varela Medical Group, a private practice emphasizing industrial and personal injury cases.