Infectious Disease Clinical Services

Serving Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket

“Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there also is love of humanity.
~ Hippocrates ~

The Mission of the Infectious Disease Clinical Services (IDCS) departments of Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital is to provide comprehensive and compassionate care of exceptional quality to individuals and families with infectious disease concerns.

The Goals of the departments are as follows:

• Provide exceptional infectious disease management services that are consistent with the latest standards of care in the area of HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Lyme Disease and other infections.
• Serve as a patient and community educational resource for infectious disease concerns.
• Promote the early identification and treatment of HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis by increasing community awareness of these infections, and improving access to confidential HIV and Viral Hepatitis testing services.

Infectious Disease Consultations

Comprehensive consultations for hospital inpatients and outpatients.

• Tick borne diseases (Lyme, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, etc.)
• Antibiotic usage
• General infectious diseases
• HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis

Hepatitis B & C Disease Management

• Evaluation and treatment
• RN medical case management
• Education and support

HIV Disease Management

• Primary care services
• RN medical case management
• Care coordination in partnership with the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod (ASGCC) and the Nantucket AIDS Network (NAN)
• Treatment options including referral to clinical trials and expanded access medication programs
• Education and support

Counseling, Testing and Referral (CTR)

• Free confidential HIV and Viral Hepatitis testing and counseling services
• Sexually transmitted infections (STI) screening and referral

Hours of Operation:

• IDCS at 34 Park Street, Hyannis is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm.
• IDCS at Falmouth Hospital is open Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm.
• Quarterly IDCS clinic at Island Health Care, Martha’s Vineyard
• Quarterly IDCS clinic at Nantucket Cottage Hospital
• IDCS coordinates HIV, STI and Viral Hepatitis counseling, testing and referral (CTR)services at multiple locations on the Cape and Islands.

Health Insurance Coverage

• As a department of Cape Cod and Falmouth Hospitals, IDCS accepts Medicaid (Mass Health), Medicare, and most types of commercial insurance (e.g. Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Harvard Pilgrim)
• If you do not have insurance, financial counselors are available at both hospitals to assist you.
• Please note that most managed care health insurance programs will require authorization from your primary care provider in order for you to be seen at IDCS. IDCS staff will assist you in obtaining this authorization whenever possible.

The Multidisciplinary Team Includes:

• Alan M. Sugar, MD
  Medical Director, Board Certified in Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine, Professor of Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine
• Laurel Miller, MD
  Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital, Board Certified in Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine
• Marcia Peaslee, ARNP, AACRN
  Specializing in HIV/AIDS Primary Care and Hepatitis C Treatment
• Diane Marino, RN, ACRN
  Director
• Valerie Al-Hachem, RN, MPH
  Manager/Grants Administrator
• Donna Schleicher, RN, BSN, ACRN
  HIV RN Medical Manager
• Patricia Iafrate, RN, CCM
  HIV RN Medical Manager
• Melodi Southworth, RN
  Hepatitis RN Medical Manager
• Liz DiCarlo, RN, MPH
  Nurse Coordinator, Falmouth Hospital
• Heidi Smith, RN, AACRN
  Clinical Specialist, Counseling, Testing and Referral (CTR) program
• Sandra Matias, LICSW
  Medical Social Worker/Substance Abuse Specialist, Speaks Portuguese and Spanish
• Laura Theodor, Ph.D.
  Psychologist, specializing in individual and group behavorial health consultations
• Stacey Richmond, RD
  Specializing in nutrition assessment and counseling

IDCS provides services to all without regard to gender, ethnicity, religion, residence, national origin, sexual orientation or ability to pay.