Primary Care

What is primary care?

Primary care specialists serve as your entry point to medical care. In addition to providing care for chronic illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma, they make sure you are receiving the appropriate screening tests for cancer and other illnesses. If you need the care of another specialist they will help get you that care.

At the Alliance for Community Wellness (ACW) we are pleased to offer patient centered, compassionate, inclusive and gender affirming care. This includes LGBTQIA specific care and hormone prescribing as needed.

We are also experts in the care of people who may have, or concerned they are at risk for, the following illnesses. You do not need to be enrolled for primary care with us to receive care for the above illnesses.

People living with HIV/AIDS, including the ability to test for HIV and begin a rapid start treatment protocol. We will assist you in getting ongoing HIV care from highly trained infectious disease specialists with whom we collaborate very closely.
People at risk for HIV/AIDS: we offer both PrEP and PEP to anyone who is at high risk for HIV/AIDS
Hepatitis C: we can screen, diagnose, and treat almost anyone who has Hepatitis C. If you need a higher level of care, we will assist in getting you there.
STIs: we can screen, diagnose, and treat gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, trichomonas, and we can provide partner therapy for Gonorrhea and chlamydia.

How to schedule an appointment with a provider.

Call (458)-215-0081 to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions about the program.

Will I be billed for service?

We do bill for services but will work with you to bill insurance. If you do not have insurance, we have a number of options to help you pay for services. If you cannot pay you will still be able to receive services. Contact acw@allianceor.org; we can help you understand billing and other options for payment.

FAQs

Can I choose the Alliance for Community Wellness as my primary care provider?

Yes, you can choose our provider as your Primary Care Provider. However, you can also see us for HCV treatment or STI care without switching your Primary Care Provider. If you have OHP, you can choose our provider by contacting your Coordinated Care Organization: Trillium Customer Care (https://www.trilliumohp.com/members.html), Pacific Source (https://communitysolutions.pacificsource.com).

Can I receive Hepatitis C treatment at the Alliance for Community Wellness without switching primary care providers?

What is HCV treatment?

Hepatitis C treatment has undergone many exciting developments in recent years. Hepatitis C is treatable with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) for most individuals with chronic infection. DAAs are consist of oral medication taken daily for 8-12 weeks with few to no side effects. In most people, hepatitis C infection is curable with DAAs 90-96% of the time when the medication is taken consistently for the full prescription. This includes people with active drug use who should be treated as soon as possible to avoid liver damage and to reduce transmission.

Do I need to be sober or in recovery to get treatment?

What can I expect for the treatment?

You can expect 1-2 blood draws prior to your treatment to confirm that you have active infection and to evaluate your liver health and HIV status to help your Hepatitis C provider choose the best treatment for you. You will meet with the provider for at least one appointment to review your treatment plan. Usually your prescription can be issued at your first appointment if you already completed your bloodwork, and may take up to 2 weeks to obtain insurance approval. You will have an assigned Hep C case manager to help you through the treatment process. After taking the treatment, it is very important to be retested for Hepatitis C 12 weeks from finishing. This is a test of cure.

Can I be re-infected with Hepatitis C?

Yes, you can be reinfected with the same genotype or a different genotype. The virus is very contagious and trace amounts of Hepatitis C can live in the environment for several days, up to a week in a used needle, or up to 3 weeks in a closed dirty syringe. It is very important not to share any works with others and to use clean and sterile works only once then dispose of them properly where they cannot be reused.

Meet Our Providers

Caitlin Myers holds a Master’s Degree of Science in Nursing from University of Alabama at Birmingham, which she achieved in 2018. She is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She has been working at HIV Alliance since October of 2022. Prior to working here, she worked at Cascade Health for several years, where she served the local community as an occupational medicine provider. She worked as an RN in an inpatient hematology/oncology setting for 6 years prior to becoming a nurse practitioner. Her clinical interests are prevention and treatment of STIs, social determinants of health and how they influence patient outcomes, and providing care to those with the most significant health disparities. After completing grad school in 2018, Caitlin moved to Eugene with her spouse, McKenzie, and their two doggies. In her free time, she enjoys taking care of her numerous house plants, gardening, hiking, and making things.

Leah Jo Figueroa-Carnine is a primary care Physician Assistant. She graduated from the Northern Arizona University PA program in 2014. After practicing in Arizona and New Mexico, she moved back to her home town of Eugene, Kalapuya lands, in 2020. She worked at the Community Health Center of Lane County as a Primary Care provider and Associate Medical Director, before joining the Alliance for Community Wellness clinic in July 2023. Leah Jo provides primary care with an emphasis on gender affirming care and addiction medicine. She is proficient in Spanish and has provided care for Spanish speaking migrant communities in the Southwest and Oregon. Leah Jo is passionate about health justice, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care. She enjoys making art, organizing for social justice, playing outside, and spending as much time as possible with her new baby, beloved family, and many tiny dogs.

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