Bluegrass Care Clinic

Services Provided

Primary medical care

• Diagnostic services (e.g. physical examinations, laboratory tests, radiological services, Pap smears).
• Vaccinations.
• Drug therapies to treat HIV and opportunistic infections.
• Referrals to UK medical subspecialty providers (e.g., Ob/Gyn; Gastroenterology).Costs of these physician services are discounted for patients enrolled in the Ryan White program.
• Emergency supplies of medications.
• HIV Expertise — Physicians are Board Certified in Infectious Diseases.
  HIV Medical care includes:
  • Evaluation of progression of disease, treatment with antiretrovirals, and monitoring for side effects.
  • Evaluation, prevention, and treatment of opportunistic infections such as PCP, pneumonia, and shingles.
  • On call coverage 24 hours/7 days a week year round.
  • Infectious Disease (ID) physicians rotate through the hospital. Patients who are hospitalized will be followed by an ID consult team
    

Medical case management

• A nurse case manager triages patient medical needs, meets with every new patient, reviews all laboratory results and communicates these to patients, follows up with patients who are hospitalized or seen in the Emergency Department, and monitors the side effects of new medications
• Medical care is coordinated with the on-site, state-funded HIV Care Coordinators to identify issues related to money, access, or lifestyle that could be preventing a person from continuing treatment so that cohesive care can be provided.

Comprehensive oral health care

• Dental screening and assessment provided by referral by the UK Adult Dental Clinic under the Ryan White Dental Reimbursement Program.
• Referral to UK private providers for ongoing dental care that includes restorative, fixed and removable prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, and pediatric dentistry. Care can be provided in a routine dental setting, under sedation, or in the operating room under general anesthesia.

Financial case management

• Financial counseling is available in the clinic to determine individual benefits under the Part C program.
• Free parking for all patients enrolled in the program regardless of income

Social services case management

• Screening and needs assessments by HIV Care Coordinators provided on site by the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department and via teleconferencing by the Cumberland Valley District Health Department. Care Coordinators facilitate a continuum of care for patients by accessing existing, community-based services to the greatest extent possible.
• Coordination of applications for free and low-cost medications through drug company patient assistance programs and the Kentucky AIDS Drug Assistance Program (KADAP). KADAP assists low-income Kentuckians with purchasing selected AIDS-related medications. Once approved, eligible persons receive formulary medications through a mail-order pharmacy service of the University of Louisville Outpatient Pharmacy.
• Coordination of applications to the Kentucky HIV Health Insurance Program, which provides payments for the continuation of insurance benefits for eligible persons at risk of losing their employment-related health insurance because of HIV disease.
• Coordination of applications to the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), a program that funds gaps in support services such as housing, transportation, and nutrition.

Mental health care

• Assessment and therapy available by a mental health specialist such as a psychiatrist or licensed clinical social worker.
• Personal counseling is available on site.
• Referrals to other mental health providers for specialty care (e.g., Emergency Psychiatry, Comp Care, Family Counseling Services).

Prevention Counseling

• Prevention case managers provided by the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department are on-site to provide patient education to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV and STDs. They also counsel and test for HIV on site.
• On-site prevention counselors available 2 days/ week for HIV testing and counseling
• HIV testing available by referral to the Fayette County Health Department.

Nutritional assessment and counseling

• Nutritionist available 4 days a week in the clinic for screening, assessment, and counseling

Pharmacy consultation

• Counseling by an on-site HIV Clinical Pharmacist for patients before, during, and after initiation of antiretroviral and other drug therapies.
• Adherence counseling.

Substance abuse services

• Substance abuse counselor available on site.
• Screening and assessment available by referral.
• Substance abuse counseling and treatment by referral.

Interpretation services

• Spanish language interpreter provided by the UK Kentucky Clinic.
• Spanish language interpreters provided by the UK Kentucky Farm Worker Outreach Program that provides equal access to health care for Latinos in the central Kentucky area.
• Patient advocate available to answer questions by monolingual Spanish-speaking patients.