YOUNGSTOWN AIDS clinic to get new life

The clinic should cost the city little since the Ursuline sisters ministry will run it and cover the costs.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- From the ashes of one AIDS clinic comes another that could service triple the number of clients.
City health board members agreed Monday to team with the Ursuline Sisters HIV/AIDS Ministry and restart a program that closed three months ago.
The new clinic will serve anyone with HIV or AIDS and their immediate families. Organizers say that could mean up to 100 regular patients.
Clinic closed: Forum Health Tod Children's Hospital closed its Family-Centered HIV Clinic on Jan. 1. A grant ended and the hospital budget couldn't absorb the costs into its budget, said Sister M. Brigid Kennedy of the Ursuline sisters. That clinic served about 30 patients, mainly children and pregnant women, and was limited mostly because of budget constraints.
Many local people with the virus or disease seek treatment in Cleveland or Pittsburgh, organizers say. The hope is that the clinic will provide services those people need so they don't have to travel.
"It's a dream of mine come true," said Neil Altman, city health commissioner.
He tried to start an AIDS clinic in 1995 but said there wasn't enough community support to make it a reality. Five years later, area agencies better understand that unmet needs remain, Altman said.
"HIV infection has not decreased," he said.
It will take a month or so to contract with the doctors who will treat the patients. Altman hopes the clinic can be open by month's end.
Getting it set up: City health board members agreed to let the clinic set up in its Oakhill Renaissance Place offices in the old Southside Medical Center. The program will cost the city little besides the space, which it has available, and utilities.
Ursuline sisters will run the clinic and pay for the doctors and supplies with grants, donations and by billing Medicaid.
Health board members were reluctant to share in any costs since the clinic isn't in the city's 2001 budget.
Edward J. DeBartolo Corp. is funding clinic startup costs.
The clinic will provide care for HIV and AIDS patients and offer primary medical care to those with the disease and their immediate family. The clinic also will offer clients support services such as social workers and legal help.
Eventually, organizers hope the clinic can offer medical and primary care, plus social services, to teens at high risk of getting HIV, Sister M. Brigid said.
That age group tends to get tested. The teens, however, don't always respond to education efforts to prevent them from getting the disease or stick with treatment if they have it, she said.