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Local AIDS service falls way short Some patients have to go out of town for treatment By SUSAN JAY The lack of medical expertise and social services in Jackson County is forcing some HIV and AIDS patients to travel as far north as Eugene and Portland for care. At the same time, fewer than 10 percent of local doctors treat HIV and AIDS patients, and those who do have too few patients to stay abreast of current treatments. These are among the findings of a new survey looking at the needs of Southern Oregon residents with HIV and AIDS. "I feel there's a need to somehow expand the services here so people can get what they need," said Anna D'Amato, who conducted the needs assessment study for Providence Medford Medical Center. She said Jackson County needs a communitywide AIDS/HIV clearinghouse that refers patients to services and helps doctors find the information they need. For the just-completed eight-month study, D'Amato sent 140 surveys to HIV and AIDS clients through agencies already providing some services to these folks, and 32 percent -- 45 patients -- responded. She talked to another 24 clients in focus groups and surveyed 38 physicians in addition to conducting informal interviews. D'Amato, who worked extensively with HIV and AIDS patients in San Francisco before coming to the Rogue Valley, presented the study and recommendations Wednesday to the Rogue Valley HIV and AIDS Network, a group of people who have or work with people with HIV and AIDS. The study was paid for by a $50,000 Ryan White Title III planning grant. D'Amato's work for Providence won't be complete until she reviews the study with physicians and community groups and returns to Providence with their feedback. Between 1983 and 1997, 3,870 people were diagnosed with AIDS in Oregon, including 271 in the five Southern Oregon counties, of which 108 have been in Jackson County, D'Amato said. D'Amato estimates Jackson County also has at least 150 people living with HIV. In the survey, only 17 percent of the 23 physicians treating people with HIV or AIDS locally said their HIV training in medical school or residency was extensive. Physicians also said they need a person or agency to coordinate and make appropriate referrals for HIV patients, along with a handout for patients listing services including counselor names, programs and costs. HIV and AIDS patients said they don't feel their doctors know enough about HIV and its treatment. Forty-five percent said they have had to go elsewhere to seek care or wait months to see specialists after being referred by their doctor. They also said there was no one place to go if they had basic questions or needed help with financial aid, health insurance or medical and social services. "I really feel a lack here," D'Amato said. She warned, however, against a center with just one medical specialist, because if that person left, the remaining patients would have to scramble to find care. That's what happened with the Southern Oregon HIV Center, which Providence started in October 1997 with infectious disease doctor Steve Clark. Providence closed the center in April 1998 after administrators and Clark disagreed over the center's operation and completion of the Ryan White grant. Clark has since left the area. Members of the network agreed with D'Amato's recommendation and emphasized the need for both appropriate medical care and case management services. "We need it all," said network co-chair Linda Berry, who has had AIDS for several years. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA