HIV prevention clinic moves to 3529 W. Front Street location, expands services
The Thomas Judd Care Center offers the public an open house from 4 - 7 p.m. on Monday, June 27, National HIV Testing Day, at its new location at 3529 W. Front St. in Traverse City.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony with Munson Medical Center President and Munson Healthcare Chief Operating Officer Al Pilong and Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer Jim Fischer is set for 5:30 p.m. Traverse City Mayor Jim Carruthers also will share a city proclamation regarding the center. Refreshments also will be available.
The Thomas Judd Care Center exists to promote wellness and prevent transmission of HIV by providing holistic-based services to improve the quality of life for individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. Clinic Manager Nicholaus Erber, Ph.D., LPC, CAADC, said the new space is a boon to regional HIV-prevention efforts.
“We are really pleased to have the expanded space, staff and services,” he said. “These exciting changes will help achieve our goal of helping as many northern Michigan residents as possible who are living with HIV into services, including proper medication.”
The clinic offers free HIV testing by appointment. Staff includes a nurse practitioner who provides primary care access to clients. The center’s case managers connect clients with access to health care, nutritional support, pharmacy support, tobacco cessation, counseling, mental health services and more. A community health specialist works to connect with community health partners across the region to share resource information. The clinic also has hired a transporter/driver to help clients make their appointments.
The Thomas Judd Care Center serves about 150 clients in northern Michigan. The CDC reports that the state has 850 cases of people living with HIV.
“Our hope is that with increased awareness of our services and increased community connections, we will be able to help more people get into care,” Erber said.