Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - October 31, 2002
REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to better reach some under-served Los Angeles County residents with quality HIV/AIDS medical care and social support services and outreach in the South Bay area, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the nation's largest specialized provider of HIV/AIDS medical care, and Pathways, a new project of the Whittier Rio Hondo AIDS Project (WRHAP), a respected Southland AIDS social service provider, today announced a new partnership in the fight against AIDS. The joint collaboration -- a new start up medical clinic combined with social service and support programs opened today in Redondo Beach with a community reception and ribbon cutting ceremony. A number of distinguished legislative, medical, and community providers and guests attended, including Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, and Congresswoman Jane Harman (D, Redondo Beach). The new medical facility, which will be known as AHF Healthcare Center/Redondo Beach, will operate two days per week initially and will expand as its patient population increases.
"I am honored to join together with Pathways and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation today in dedicating this new community HIV/AIDS health center here in Redondo Beach," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe. "It is my hope that this state-of-the-art health care center will serve both as a convenient and important resource for South Bay residents and as a successful example of public/private partnerships serving the greater Los Angeles County community."
"The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has a long history of bringing love, hope, comfort, and compassion to individuals suffering from HIV-AIDS," said Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-Redondo Beach).
"Together with Doris Wahl, Executive Director of Pathways, Supervisor Knabe and Congresswoman Harman, I am excited to unveil this new AIDS care partnership," said Michael Weinstein, AHF President. "This joint effort offers us a tremendous opportunity to do some significant collaborative outreach and provide quality HIV care and services for the community, in the community."
"Our goal is to make it easier for people with HIV and AIDS to access services -- medical care and social support services -- by combining both in a community-based setting," said Pathways' Doris Wahl. "We are excited at how this venture may improve medical care and services in the Redondo Beach area and we thank AIDS Healthcare Foundation for teaming with us and bringing their years of medical expertise to the South Bay."
The AHF Healthcare Center/Redondo Beach will be located at 520 North Prospect Avenue, Suite 209, Redondo Beach CA 90277 (310) 374-5475. Pathways will coordinate community education and prevention efforts, support groups and other social service support. Medical Director for the new facility is J. Scott Morrow, M.D., who also serves as the Medical Director of AHF's Westside Healthcare Center in Los Angeles.
"One stop shopping for medical care and services is the wave of future for truly effective HIV/AIDS care," added AHF's Weinstein. "Together, we're creating a national model for the delivery of HIV/AIDS care and services."
AIDS Healthcare Foundation currently operates twelve other healthcare centers in California, Florida and New York. Four of the twelve facilities are named in honor of the HIV positive basketball legend Magic Johnson (Oakland, San Francisco, West Adams/Los Angeles and Jacksonville, FL). Other AIDS Healthcare Centers are located throughout Southern California (Downtown, Hollywood, Lancaster, Upland, the Valley, the Westside, and Whittier) and in New York City. AIDS Healthcare Foundation also operates two additional medical clinics in Africa in partnership with local agencies: the 'Ithembalabantu' (Zulu for 'people's hope') Clinic in Umlazi Township, KwaZulu Natal, Durban South Africa; and 'Uganda Cares' in Masaka, Uganda.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation's Healthcare Centers provide state-of-the-art out-patient medical services to maximize the health and well-being of persons living at all stages of HIV disease regardless of a patient's ability to pay. Each facility provides medical programs tailored to the specific needs of asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV/AIDS individuals from qualified medical and support professionals.
Services at AHF's Healthcare Centers include initial screening, on-going monitoring, radiology and laboratory work, aggressive management of HIV/AIDS with combined drug therapies, and access (for those who may choose) to clinical research trials. Other services include public benefits counseling and advocacy, mental health counseling and 24-hour access to medical advice. It is expected that these services will also be offered through the Redondo Beach facility to patients regardless of their ability to pay, as done in Los Angeles.
For more information, contact Ged Kenslea, AHF Communications Director in Los Angeles at (323) 860-5225 or via email gedk@aidshealth.org
AIDS Healthcare Foundation -- is the largest specialized provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the United States. AHF serves thousands of patients in California, New York and Florida regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. In addition, AHF currently operates two free AIDS treatment clinics in Africa: the Ithembalabantu (Zulu for "people's hope") Clinic in KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa & the Uganda Cares Healthcare Center in Masaka, Uganda. http://www.aidshealth.org .
Pathways/Whittier Rio Hondo AIDS Project -- Founded in March 1992 as a support group, and incorporated in 1993, WRHAP is a full service AIDS organization that provides case management, testing, prevention to youth at sexual risk for HIV, and support groups for men and women in Whittier and its surrounding cities. Pathways, WRHAP's newest project, will work in collaboration with AIDS Healthcare Foundation to serve people in the South Bay living with HIV/AIDS.
SOURCE AIDS Healthcare Foundation Web Site: http://www.aidshealth.org
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