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Patient Care

Patient Care

HAVEN Free Clinic is a student-run free clinic dedicated to providing compassionate, accessible healthcare to uninsured community members. Because our clinic is student-run, our services are delivered under physician supervision and are intentionally focused on conditions our team is equipped to manage safely and effectively.

Our broader mission goes beyond treating illness. We are here to help every patient navigate the healthcare system and find a path to permanent, sustainable care.

Scope of Care

What HAVEN provides

  • Primary care visits — checkups, illness, physicals
  • Chronic disease management: diabetes, hypertension, asthma
  • Reproductive & women's health: pap smears, STI screening, contraception, gender-affirming care
  • Behavioral health screenings and warm referrals
  • Lab testing and vaccines
  • Low-cost medications through our pharmacy partnerships
  • Health education: diabetes, nutrition, self-management
  • Referrals to specialists and community resources
  • Medical debt counseling and help with YNHH Free Care applications
  • Latent TB, H. pylori, and hypertension follow-up care
  • Interpretation and cultural navigation
  • Longitudinal care coordination for complex health needs

Outside our scope

  • Emergency or life-threatening care — call 911 or go to the ER
  • Insulin-dependent or highly complex diabetes management
  • Surgery, imaging, oncology, or complex specialist procedures
  • Licensed social work or crisis intervention
  • Housing placement or job placement
  • Weekday or after-hours care (Saturdays only)
  • Insurance enrollment or Medicaid applications (we refer you)

When we can't provide something directly, we connect you to someone who can. You never leave HAVEN without a next step.

Departments

Our Primary Care Department is dedicated to providing comprehensive, patient-centered care for individuals. We address everyday health needs, including prevention, early detection, and long-term health management.

The services we offer include, but are not limited to:

  • Routine checkups
  • Preventive screenings
  • Chronic condition management
  • Acute illness care
  • Tailored health guidance

Whether you're coming in for an annual physical, managing an ongoing condition, or addressing a new health concern, our primary care team is here to be your first point of contact and trusted health advocate.

We offer several routine and preventive vaccines in clinic to help protect your health. Vaccine availability varies — please ask your provider about what is currently in stock.

You must be an established HAVEN patient to receive a vaccine. Vaccines are offered as part of your ongoing care at the clinic — we are not able to provide standalone or walk-in vaccine-only visits. If you are not yet a patient, see our eligibility information to establish care first.

Vaccines Available at HAVEN

  • Shingles (Shingrix)
  • HPV (Gardasil)
  • Hepatitis B (Heplisav-B)
  • Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap / Boostrix)
  • Pneumococcal (PCV)
  • Hepatitis A & B (Twinrix)

COVID-19 & Flu Vaccines

  • We do not always carry COVID-19 and flu vaccines in clinic. Visit vaccines.gov to find locations near you offering these vaccines.

If you are interested in receiving a vaccine or have questions about which vaccines you may need, please ask your provider.

Our Behavioral Health Department focuses on psycho-education and connects patients with trusted community partners for long-term mental health care.

Learn more on our Behavioral Health page

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). Our department is not equipped to handle emergency situations.

Reproductive & Sexual Health Services

We provide routine and problem-focused reproductive and sexual health care for patients of all genders and anatomies. Our goal is to support your health, comfort, and choices in a respectful and inclusive environment.

Routine Care

  • Annual well-visits
  • Pap smears and breast exams
  • Referrals for mammograms
  • Sexual health counseling and testing

Care for Specific Concerns

  • Menstrual concerns (irregular, heavy, or painful periods)
  • Pelvic, breast, or genital pain
  • Vaginal discharge or urinary/genital discomfort
  • Menopause counseling and treatment
  • Family planning counseling
  • Sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and counseling
  • Support and care related to intimate partner violence (IPV)

Gender-Affirming Care

  • Masculinizing or feminizing hormone therapy
  • Referrals for gender-affirming surgeries

Contraception & HIV Prevention

  • Birth control counseling and prescriptions (pill, injection, IUD, implant)
  • HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

Pregnancy Testing & Referrals

  • Pregnancy testing
  • Referral to trusted partner clinics for prenatal care

Important Information

  • We welcome patients of all gender identities.
  • We do not see patients who are pregnant, but we can help connect you to prenatal care services.
  • We do not provide infertility counseling.
  • Care is available regardless of immigration or legal status, and many services are covered through Connecticut HUSKY or Free Care programs.
  • We work closely with other clinic teams to ensure you receive the right care and referrals when needed.

If you have questions about reproductive or sexual health, need counseling, or want to schedule a visit, please let our clinic staff know — we're here to help.

Our Lab Services department provides diagnostic testing to support patient care — including routine blood work, screenings, infectious disease testing, chronic condition monitoring, and specimen collection.

Your provider will let you know if any lab work is needed. Most labs are completed during the week, not on Saturdays.

Walk-In Lab Hours

800 Howard Ave, 2nd Floor
Monday – Friday, 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM

No appointment needed — just bring your lab order from your provider.

The Infectious and Chronic Disease Department (ICDD), formerly the Latent Tuberculosis Initiative (LTBI), oversees care for conditions that benefit from continuity and long-term follow-up. We help our team get to know you over multiple visits, so your care plan can grow with you.

Conditions We Manage

  • Latent tuberculosis (TB) infection screening and treatment
  • Chronic hypertension management
  • H. pylori treatment

What to Expect at an ICDD Visit

  • In-depth health education and counseling
  • Focused physical assessments and review of any new concerns
  • Checks for medication side effects and support for treatment adherence
  • A care plan finalized together with a HAVEN attending physician

ICDD also collaborates with other HAVEN departments to screen all patients for tuberculosis risk factors and collect labs as needed.