The Wright Center for Community Health’s Ryan White Clinic received more than $1 million in grant funding from the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) to continue providing comprehensive medical care and support services for low-income, uninsured, and underserved people living with HIV in Northeast Pennsylvania.
The three-year HRSA grant, known as the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C Early Intervention Services Program, is awarded to entities that provide comprehensive HIV medical care and treatment, education and adherence counseling, and referrals to other specialty providers if needed for medical care and supportive services.
As a HRSA-designated Ryan White service provider, The Wright Center’s clinic has been delivering Part C medical services since 2002, offering a whole-person approach to patient care, giving patients living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS the convenience of visiting a single site for a full spectrum of health services.
In addition to medical care management, staff at the clinic offer behavioral health, dental care, and addiction and recovery services. In 2008, the clinic expanded its offerings to include Part B medical case management, providing critical supportive services to assist patients in navigating their medical and support needs. Available ancillary services include housing assistance, medical nutrition therapy, emergency financial assistance, and more.
The Ryan White Clinic provides care to nearly 500 patients each year from Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties at two community health centers: 501 S. Washington Ave., in Scranton, and 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave., in Wilkes-Barre. More than 95% of the clinic’s patients have undetectable viral loads, meaning they cannot transmit HIV to others.
As part of the grant process, a HRSA committee reviewed and scored applications. The Wright Center’s application earned a 99 out of a possible 100, and the committee praised the clinic and its staff for clearly identifying specific subpopulations with the greatest need for services; being the only agency in the designated service area to provide the entire HIV care continuum, including confidential testing and full medical services to a demographic that is dispersed, low-income, and often underserved; clearly understand the demographics of the vulnerable and underinsured populations in the service area; address the factors that contribute to service gaps, and more.
To learn more, visit TheWrightCenter.org/services/ryan-white-hiv-clinic or call 570.941.0630.
