BronxCare Health System

Dr. Ashutosh Das, Pediatric Outpatient Medical Director, checking heartbeat of patient.
Dr. Ashutosh Das, Pediatric Outpatient Medical Director, checking heartbeat of patient.
Dr. Jenny Lin, Pediatric Pulmonologist, with pediatric patient.
Dr. Jenny Lin, Pediatric Pulmonologist, with pediatric patient.

Pediatric Outpatient Services and Special Programs

As a medical home for children and adolescents, outpatient pediatric services are offered at four practice locations. In addition to pediatric care, nutritional and mental health services are provided. At the BronxCare Third Avenue and Concourse Practices, adolescent medicine specialists provide care for pre-teens and teens approaching young adulthood. BronxCare’s participation in the Medicaid Family Planning Benefit Program is also enabling teenagers to apply for health coverage on their own to confidentially cover reproductive health issues.

Clinical services are enhanced by special programs, many of which are supported through government and foundation grants. An Autism Support Group provides monthly educational and support services to parents and family members of children with autism. It addresses the day-to-day stresses faced by these families and also assists in the referral process. A Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program also works with pre-teens to develop ideas about their futures, while also handling bullying, peer pressure, and other barriers. The Healthy Tomorrows Program works with families to identify and improve the impact regarding the social determinants of health on their children’s development.

It is noteworthy that the Pediatrics Department receives more than one million dollars in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support children and adolescents infected with HIV and to prevent HIV transmission to their at-risk partners. In addition, grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute fund case management and support services for this same population. Recently, the Pediatrics Department was awarded a five-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to provide testing for HIV, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), substance use screening, and mental health issues. This has allowed the program to partner with local colleges and housing complexes to bring these services to their respective locations. Other funding from HRSA has supported the growth of an outreach and education program to assist patients in gaining access to PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) to prevent transmission of HIV.  

The Pediatrics Department is also continuing as the lead agency of the Bronx Human Trafficking Task Force, with Dr. Sherman as the director. This task force, which brings together social service, legal, education, advocacy, and other agencies throughout the Bronx, focuses on addressing the needs of children, adolescents, and adults who are sex- or labor-trafficked. It provides community education on how to identify victims and prevent trafficking in general. As part of its partnership with community-based organizations, the Department of Pediatrics also sponsors monthly outreach and education events to bring information to patients and community members. Recent topics have included education about sickle cell anemia, asthma, summer safety, autism, and LGBTQ health.