South Central Austin Edition | June 2023

HEALTH CARE BRIEFS

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

Texas Oncology adds colon, rectal surgeons to expand local specialized services

GETTING TREATMENT Austin Public Health ocials are urging people to get testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections as cases are rising. In 2022: 10,000 patients were screened for HIV and syphilis 345 patients were given HIV PrEP medications 31 patients had mpox

BY AMANDA CUTSHALL

BY DARCY SPRAGUE

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-service 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 com- ing 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 condoms and distributes them to various community locations. The Kind Clinic oers similar services, and specializes in STI and HIV testing and treatment with expertise in serving the LGBTQ commu- nity, 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.

As recent studies show colon and rectal cancer is increasingly found in younger patients and being diagnosed in more advanced stages, Texas Oncology has expanded its care by acquiring a group of local surgeons. Central Texas Colon and Rectal Surgeons joined Texas Oncology in May. The physicians will now operate under Texas Colon & Rectal Specialists, a subset of Texas Oncology. A study from the American Cancer Society found 60% of colorectal cancer was diagnosed as advanced compared to 52% in the mid-2000s. Plus, 20% of cases occurred in adults younger than age 55, up from 11% in 1999. Thiru Lakshman, president of Central Texas Colon and Rectal Surgeons, said anyone age 45 or older should get screened for cancer—ideally with a colonoscopy. To lower the risk of getting colorectal cancer, he recommends avoiding excessive red meat, smoked meats and alcohol; not smoking; and not living a sedentary lifestyle. As colorectal cancer is increasingly found in younger adults and at more advanced stages, Texas Oncology is expanding its Austin-area services. EXPANDING CARE 153,020 new cases of colon and rectal cancer are diagnosed annually nationwide. 1 in 23 men and 1 in 26 women on average will be diagnosed with these cancers in their lifetimes. It is the 3rd leading cause of cancer death in the United States.

SEXUAL HEALTH CLINICS IN AUSTIN

WALLER ST.

APH Sexual Health Clinic • 15 Waller St.

Kind Clinic North Austin • 101 W Koenig Lane

Kind Clinic South Austin • 2800 S. I-35

SOURCE: AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTHCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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.

SOURCE: AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COVID19 strategy shifts as emergency declaration ends COVID-19 eorts are shifting from an emergency to a managed response as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared the end of the BY AMANDA CUTSHALL Dr. Desmar Walkes, the Austin-Travis County health authority, said that although the emergency declaration is coming to an end, that does not mean the end of COVID-19.

COVID19 RESPONSE Austin Public Health is shifting its COVID-19 eorts following the end of the national public health emergency May 11. 1.2 million+ COVID-19 tests were conducted by APH.

national public health emergency in May. Austin Public Health ocials are nalizing updated COVID-19 dashboards to match the Centers for Disease Control format and Prevention as well as the Texas Department of State Health Services, and to address changes or elimination of federal or state COVID-19 metrics.

“Our work continues preventing disease within our community as long as this virus persists,” Walkes said. APH will continue to oer COVID-19 vaccines through the Shots for Tots and Big Shots clinics as well as the Mobile Vaccination Program’s commu- nity events, APH ocials said.

10,000+ businesses were monitored to ensure COVID-19 protocols were followed. 404,000+ doses of COVID-19 vaccines were distributed.

SOURCE: AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTHCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM