Taking Control of his Health

Jorge’s Story

“I am thankful to Open Door for both their compassionate and quality care and for never turning me away.”

Jorge has been on a weight loss journey that has already resulted in the loss of nearly 50 pounds. Following the pandemic, Jorge weighed 323 pounds, his blood pressure had soared over 150, and he had cardiac concerns. His sugar levels were high, and he was fighting GI issues. He also twice contracted COVID-19.

“My physician assistant, Jens Haerter, recommended that I try to lose weight and he referred me to Paula Caetano, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Open Door,” says Jorge. “I began nutrition counseling and today I am already down to 275 pounds and feeling so much better.”

While not yet at his goal of losing 100 pounds, Jorge feels he is well on his way.

“I would tell others who may be in a similar situation that you need to work hard and do your part adhering to the recommendations, exercising and following the dietary guidelines that the team at Open Door provides,” he says. “We must take control of our own lives.”

About Open Door Family Medical Center and Foundation
Open Door Family Medical Center provides health care and wellness programs to individuals and families in need throughout Westchester, Dutchess, Putnam and Ulster Counties. A pioneer Federally Qualified Health Center, Open Door provides more than 300,000 patient visits annually and serves 63,000 individual patients who might not otherwise have access. Open Door offers integrated services and a holistic approach to building healthier communities. Primary medical care, dental care, integrated behavioral health care, clinical nutrition, wellness programs, and chronic disease management are the foundation of its clinical programs. Founded as a free clinic in 1972, Open Door’s mission of building healthier communities through accessible, equitable, culturally competent health care has led to site and service expansions. Today, Open Door operates centers in Brewster, Mamaroneck, Mount Kisco, Ossining, Port Chester, and Sleepy Hollow, in addition to nine School-Based Health Centers in the Port Chester, Webutuck, and Ossining School Districts, a mobile dental van in Mount Kisco, and a dental practice in Saugerties, NY. Open Door is accredited by the Joint Commission and is recognized by the National Committee on Quality Assurance as a Patient-Centered Medical Home. Open Door achieves clinical results that consistently surpass national benchmarks for patient outcomes. For additional information, please contact Elisabeth Gilbert, Senior Director of Development, at 914-502-1417.

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