Linn County may debate combining Ryan White program with Public Health

CEDAR RAPIDS - Linn County Supervisors could be tasked with deciding whether they want to consolidate HIV/AIDS services now offered between the county's public health department and the Ryan White Medical Case Management program.

On Wednesday, Pramod Dwivedi, director of Linn County Public Health, suggested that combining the two programs - which currently operate in different locations - under one roof as 'integration with meaningful outcomes.”

'There are two county programs doing the same thing, why not put them together?” Dwivedi said. 'It's not just we are thinking of taking over a program, it's really for the betterment of our community, betterment of our quality of work and betterment of our process of work.”

Ryan White, which began in 2009 and last month received a continuation grant from the Iowa Department of Public Health for another four years, provides case management services for clients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

David Thielen, director of Linn County Community Services, said the program's location in the Linn County Community Services building, 1240 26th Ave. Ct. SW, provides clients with a private setting and easy access to other often-needed services such as mental health services or general assistance.

Ryan White case managers are not medical professionals, but take referrals and direct clients to several different hospitals and clinics. In the past three years, only 17 people, or about 12 percent, of the program's 132 clients have been referred from Linn County Public Health, Theilen said.

Linn County Public Health - the first in Iowa to be awarded national accreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board, in 2015 - is located at 501 13th St NW, but by the end of next year will relocate to the future Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris building at 1019 Seventh St. SE.

The public health department provides testing for HIV and AIDS as well as other sexually transmitted infections. Case management services also are provided for infectious diseases.

'Can we be stronger together? Is there more that we can do? I think for the past six years we've done a lot together, but it's kind of got as far as it can because we are in two separate locations,” said Heather Meador, senior public health nurse with Linn County Public Health.

Thielen's request to the board was to vet all possibilities before making a decision on relocating either service.

'There's so much at stake with the stakeholders,” he said.

Supervisor John Harris, however, expressed concern that it seems sides already were being chosen on the matter.

'I know that (Thielen) came with a request to the board that said, let's explore some ways that the two entities can cooperate and do what's best for the programs,” Harris said. 'I'm afraid that what I get from Public Health is the only solution is to house the Ryan White program in Public Health, so I'm not sure how successful the collaboration might be.”

Supervisor Brent Oleson suggested the board consider further discussion on the matter and possibly schedule a special public meeting for all interested parties.

l Comments: (319) 339-3175; mitchell.schmidt@thegazette.com