North - Northwest Austin Edition | June 2023

HEALTH CARE

News from Austin & Travis County

2023 HEALTH CARE EDITION

Hospital district faces lawsuit, audit; health disparities persist

TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH OUTCOMES Disproportionate health outcomes such as life expectancy are seen in parts of Travis County with higher poverty rates.

Austin-area clinics see spikes in STI cases, urge community to seek care

GETTING TREATMENT Austin Public Health ocials are urging people to get testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections as cases are rising. In 2021-22: 10,000 patients were screened for HIV and syphilis 345 patients were given HIV PrEP medications 31 patients had mpox

SEXUAL HEALTH CLINICS IN AUSTIN

WALLER ST.

Life expectancy in years at birth 56.9-75.1 75.2-77.5

77.6-79.5 81.7-97.5 No data

Travis County’s hospital district for low-income residents, Central Health, is facing several challenges, including concern about a lack of ser- vices, especially in the eastern part of the county, where health outcomes are traditionally worse. Central Health and its private partner, Ascension Seton, remain involved in legal action over claims about lacking care for low-income residents—echoing recent concerns from some residents and activists. Both parties have sued each other and now could potentially move into further negotiations or terminate their partnership. Local criticism of Central Health for its nancial man- agement and provision of care also prompted Travis County Commis- sioners to order a performance audit that kicked o in May and is set to be completed in January. BY KATY MCAFEE & BEN THOMPSON

The hospital district also faces a leadership change as Mike Geeslin, its president and CEO of six years, announced in April he will step down by the end of the year. A replacement could be hired by the fall. As Central Health contends with those issues, east side residents are still facing lacking health care options and outcomes compared with central and western areas of the county. “The eastern crescent of Austin has historically been underserved, especially concerning preventative services. Centers for health care and preventive services have often been located to the west of I-35, limiting access for East Austin residents,” said City Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, who represents Northeast Austin. New initiatives underway could expand oerings in those commu- nities in the near future, including

79.6-81.6

BY AMANDA CUTSHALL

Austin Public Health ocials are encouraging individuals to seek out testing and resources as it sees an uptick in sexually transmitted infections. APH ocials saw 10,000 patient visits in 2022—up 38% from the 2021 numbers, APH Director Adrienne Sturrup said. The Kind Clinic, which is a free full-ser- vice sexual health and wellness clinic dedicated to the treatment and prevention of STIs, saw a similar trend for 2022, providing services to 11,260 patients through the walk-in clinic on Koenig Lane. “This is an increase of 365% in demand for STI testing,” said Steven Tamayo, director of Community Health for Texas Health Action, which oversees the Kind clinics. “I think we can attribute this increase somewhat to people coming out of quarantine, restrictions being lifted, people getting back to going out—anecdotally, this is what we have seen.” APH’s sexual health programs oer a range of services, including testing and treatment for STIs, HIV testing and counseling, and education on safe sexual practices. The program also provides free

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APH Sexual Health Clinic • 15 Waller St.

For more information about the Austin Public Health Sexual Health Clinic, call 512-972-5430. For more information about the Kind Clinic, call 833-937-5463.

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MOPAC

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Central Health’s equity-centered strategic plan to improve the region’s “safety-net” health care system. Harper-Madison said

condoms and distributes them to various commu- nity locations. The Kind Clinic oers similar services, and specializes in STI and HIV testing and treatment with expertise in serving the LGBTQ community, Tamayo said. In addition, the clinic oers a mobile unit that travels throughout the city for those who do not have transportation. Tamayo said another service oered by the clinics includes mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, vaccines for the public. On May 26 local health ocials recorded the rst Austin-Travis County case of mpox since February.

Kind Clinic North Austin • 101 W Koenig Lane

SOURCE: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION COMMUNITY IMPACT

the city and Austin Public Health are working to address disparities through several ongoing programs. Additionally, a city-backed devel- opment initiative in Northeast Austin—the Colony Park Sustainable Community—may also expand access

to housing, health care and other services. One piece of that master-planned neighborhood will be a health and wellness center managed by Central Health after Austin sold 2.28 acres there to the hospital district.

Kind Clinic South Austin • 2800 S. I-35

SOURCE: AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTHCOMMUNITY IMPACT

HYMEADOW 12611 Hymeadow (512) 506-8401

NORTH 620 10601 N FM 620 (512) 506-8316

ARBORETUM 10515 North Mopac Expressway (512) 342-6893