Optimus Health Care, Inc. has a multi-cultural group of experienced and dedicated primary medical care providers that includes Family Practitioner, Physicians, Internists, Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), and Physician Assistants. We can provide our patients with specialty medical care services either though our in-house providers or through referrals to an extensive network of partner providers. Most of our primary care providers have hospital privileges at Bridgeport Hospital and Stamford Hospital.
Our Medical service is further divided into Pediatric and Adult Medicine practices.
Pediatric Services
Our pediatric services include:
- Well-child visits
- Hearing and Vision Screening
- Behavioral Health Screenings
- Immunization
- Acute Care and Hospital Follow-up
Pediatric services are available at all our service delivery sites.
Pediatric Services Staff/Providers:
- Dr. Kathleen Ballas, Director - Department of Pediatrics
- Dr. Umanga Dawlagala
- Dr. Ada Vidal
- Dr. Eduardo Figueroa
- Ms Sharon Schirmanm, APRN/ Asthma Specialist
- Ms Susan McAvoy, APRN
- Dr. Jessie Williams
The Asthma Management Program enrolls children and their families with a care management model that involves regular primary care visits, more intensive health education, and medication management. This intervention adheres to nationally accepted clinical guidelines in the care of children with asthma. The Program targets pediatric patients from referral bases consisting of the school nurses, pediatricians, and families. The success of the program was documented by a two year Asthma Study conducted and completed by the University of Connecticut that objectively measured success in the medical management and quality of life of our asthma patients. These results support a previous study conducted by Yale University that lead to the JCAHO’s recognition of the program as a Program of Excellence in CY 2000.
This program is available at our East Main Street location in Bridgeport and our Selleck Street location in Stamford. Contact the following providers for more information about this program:
Ms Sharon Schirmann, APRN Director – Pediatric Asthma Program
(203) 696 – 3260 ext 3446
Ms Gisela Lamour, APRN
(203) 327 – 5111 ext 3912
Adult medicine services include:
- Medical Home/Primary Care Provider
- Acute Consultations
- Physical Examinations
- CVD Screening
- Diabetes Management
- Hospital Follow-up
- 24-hour on-call service
- Geriatric Care
- Health Promotion
These services are available at all our sites. Specialty services such Podiatry and Hepatitis C services are available at some locations as well. Please contact our nearest location for further information.
The Adult Medicine is staffed by culturally-diverse group of professionals, and headed by our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Richard Torres, MPH, FACP, CHES.
Barnum Avenue location
- Dr. Richard Torres, Chief Medical Officer
- Dr. Myrna Reyes
- Dr. Olga Manson
- Ms Maria Perez, PA
- Mr. Jeffery Montano, PA
Park City Primary Care Center
- Dr. James Seely
- Dr. Saadia Qureshi
- Dr. Jessie Williams
- Dr. Pinar Oray-Schrom
Chase Wellness Center
Ralphola Taylor Community Health Center
- Ms Nicole Santaniello, PA
Stratford Community Health Center
- Dr. Raymond Stewart
- Mr. Andrew Barlow, PA
- Ms Diana Lopez, APRN
Hollow Center
- Ms Marleena Ann Dinaggio, APRN
Stamford Community Health Center
- Dr. James Melis
- Dr. Teresa Bravo
- Ms Gisela Lamour, APRN
- Ms Carrie Hofstad, PA
- Ms Laura Desilets, PA
The model for this collaborative combined an integrated performance improvement approach using the Chronic Care Model and draws from the experience of the Bureau of Primary Health Care Diabetes 1 & 2 Collaborative. The program interventions were successful in improving health outcomes for our diabetic patients. The service interventions and findings were published in the Community based Collaborative Program in Diabetes in Latinos and African American, Ethnicity & Diseases-Vol11, Spring/Summer 2001. Program implementation occurred primarily at the Stratford Community Health Center.
For more information about our Diabetes Collaborative, please contact Mr. Andrew Barlow, PA at (203) 375 – 7242.
