Glastonbury Med Merger To 'Enhance Services For LGBTQ+ Population'

GLASTONBURY, CT — Dr. Kenneth Abriola, an infectious disease specialist who has maintained a private medical practice at 300 Hebron Ave. in Glastonbury, with patients throughout northern Connecticut for two decades, has merged with Norwalk-based Circle Care Center in an effort to "enhance the quality of care for his patients while also offering a wider range of health services to LGBTQ+ populations across the state."

For more than a decade, Circle Care Center has been rated highly as a LGBTQ+ health center in Connecticut. The Center’s healthcare providers "work to eliminate barriers to healthcare access for marginalized groups, decrease the prevalence of STIs through affirming care, and works to provide patient assistance to help low-income patients access the care they need, regardless of their ability to pay," according to a news release.

Circle Care Center "brings a cultural approach to the patient experience and works as an advocate for patients along with its on-site pharmacy - Circle Care Center Pharmacy – where expert pharmacists and pharmacy technicians prioritize discounts and co-pay assistance that help all patients," principals of the merger said.

Added Dr. Abriola, "I am exceptionally pleased that this merger came to fruition. The mission of Circle Care Center aligns perfectly with my personal goals for patient care and my commitment to the LGBTQI+ community. Circle Care Center completes the vision that I have always had for my practice. I am certain that my patients will be pleased to know that they will still be working with the same providers and staff that they have gotten to know through the years. Meanwhile, I think they will be very pleased by the expanded array of vaccines and treatments that we will offer, as well as additional opportunities for care including gender affirming care."

Circle Care Center CEO, Anthony Crisci, recently brought both healthcare practices together for a combined staff retreat that helped healthcare providers and employees get to know one another and launch of the newly-named Circle Care Center in Glastonbury. Dr. David Rubin, the senior medical director, along with Norwalk-based family nurse Practitioner Trish Garton, met with Abriola, as did their respective teams of clinical care staff.

"The merger with Dr. Abriola’s practice is a big step for him as well as for Circle Care Center, and one that emphasizes the importance of specialized, culturally sensitive healthcare for patients. Bringing together the staff from both locations was an important step in making this merger a success while also guaranteeing Dr. Abriola’s patients a smooth transition and continuity of care that they have come to expect,” said Anthony Crisci the CEO of Circle Care Center. "While many larger health networks expand their reach and acquire private medical practices throughout the state, we look forward to maintaining Dr. Abriola’s existing health services while also expanding health access and affordability to communities in the Hartford area, especially to the LGBTQ+ Community in northern Connecticut."