Every December, we like to reflect on the previous twelve months. Even though 2021 was an incredibly challenging year, plenty of positives still happened. Here are some highlights.
GBU remains open throughout the pandemic
From the outset, our leadership believed it was incredibly important to keep our doors open, for two important reasons.
First, if patients put off their urological care, it could have significant consequences for them down the road. Second, we wanted to provide people with a viable alternative to overburdened ERs and urgent care centers. After all, why should patients go to the ER with a UTI or kidney stone and risk exposure to COVID-19 when we have nine locations throughout eastern Massachusetts?
We're happy to report that we stayed open, even during the worst of it. Of course, we couldn't have done this without the dedication of our wonderful employees—from the front office staff to all the medical personnel. They truly are heroes.
All that said, and despite our best efforts, we understand that the pandemic has forced many people to put off seeing their doctors. If that describes you, now's the time to book an appointment with us. In addition to acute conditions (like kidney stones) and serious disease (like prostate cancer), we can also treat nagging conditions, like urine leakage and endless trips to the bathroom at night. Your quality of life matters. Let us help.
And please know that we continue to closely follow all CDC guidelines regarding the pandemic. At this time, regardless of vaccination status, we require masks in all our Care Centers. We also offer telehealth visits for patients who prefer that option.
GBU welcomes a new urologist to the Cape
We welcomed a new full-time urologist to our Hyannis Care Center in August. Dr. Bijan Salari earned his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Columbia University in New York and his medical degree from The Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University in Fairborn, Ohio.
Prior to joining GBU, Dr. Salari served as Chief Resident in Urology at the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio, which is also his hometown. His clinical interests include general urology, robotic surgery, and minimally invasive surgery.
GBU moves its Hyannis Care Center to a new location
As of November 8, we began seeing patients in our new Hyannis location at 700 Attucks Lane, Unit 2A.
This new location offers more space for our growing practice. In addition to general urology, we also offer urogynecology and pelvic floor physical therapy for women and men.
GBU applauds Dr. Gillard for his work with GreenLight™ Laser Therapy
Dr. Stephen Craig Gillard, who practices out of GBU's Plymouth Care Center, has been designated as the first Massachusetts Center of Excellence for GreenLight™ Laser Therapy treatment – a minimally invasive outpatient procedure for men looking to treat their benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), not just the symptoms. Dr. Gillard is the first Center of Excellence in Massachusetts. Read more here.
GBU welcomes a nurse practitioner, nurse navigator, pelvic floor physical therapist, registered dietitian, and three physician assistants to the team
Our goal of making sure patients continue to be seen (even during a pandemic) is working, as evidenced by the fact we made several new hires due to increased demand.
Daniel Nazzaro is our nurse practitioner in Plymouth. Dr. Cathryn Morris is our pelvic floor physical therapist in Plymouth. Abbey Rubin is our physician assistant in the Women's Health Center in Dedham. Kennedy Robinson is our physician assistant in Milton. Our nurse navigator, Marie E. Albert, manages care for all of our prostate cancer patients. And last, but not least: Elle Wittneben is our registered dietitian. Elle sees patients via telemedicine and in-person in our Dedham Care Center.
GBU introduces a new service: nutrition counseling
For many conditions, simple dietary changes are often first-line treatments. Our registered dietitian, Elle Wittneben, can help you make smart changes to your diet without sacrificing all the foods you love. (She's a firm believer that "all foods fit.") Plus, Elle has an incredibly kind and warm way about her. Her patients love working with her.
You can read more about Elle's background here. A highlight: She's a board certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management. That's significant since fewer than 25 providers in Massachusetts hold this credential.
GBU offers Bulkamid for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI)
Bulkamid is an exciting new minimally invasive treatment for stress urinary incontinence in women (think urine leakage that happens during normal daily activities, like sneezing, coughing, or exercising). Dr. Angel Marie Johnson, Director of our Women's Health Centers in Dedham and Hyannis, is trained in the Bulkamid procedure.
GBU expands and renovates the Framingham Care Center
We expanded our existing Framingham Care Center by 2,300 square feet. The Center remains in its current location at 161 Worcester Road. The expanded space makes for much more comfortable waiting rooms and exam rooms. In addition, GBU will be welcoming a new physician assistant, Kevin Lai, to Framingham in January.
GBU moves its central billing office (CBO) to a bigger location and offers enhanced authorization services for patients
We moved our CBO from Abington to Hanover (going from 1000 square feet to 3000 square feet) and added a prior authorization center, which works as a liaison between our Care Centers and the insurance companies in getting approvals for medications and procedures. This helps streamline everything for patients.
GBU continues to (virtually!) walk to help end prostate cancer and bladder cancer
Our two signature events—the ZERO Prostate Cancer Walk/Run and the BCAN Walk to End Bladder Cancer—remained virtual events this year due to the pandemic. But that didn't stop people from participating or raising valuable dollars.
Team GBU raised $12,595 for ZERO and close to $3000 for BCAN. (Overall funds raised for the Boston Run/Walk for ZERO = $144,345!) And yes, there's still time to donate to each!
GBU launches a new website
Our new website aims to make it easier to find the information you need right away—a doctor's name, a care center's phone number—along with comprehensive educational information about various urologic conditions. Take a look around if you haven't had a chance to check it out yet.
GBU looks ahead to 2022
We were hoping to open our new Plymouth location in 2021, but spring of 2022 is looking more likely. The new address will be 45 Home Depot Drive (also in Plymouth). The bigger space will allow for expanded services, including pelvic floor physical therapy and a Women's Health Center with our second urogynecologist. More to come as we get closer to opening!
Until then and on behalf of all of us at GBU, we wish you and your family a joyful holiday season and a healthy 2022.
PS: You can read past highlights here: