 MCRH Featured in International HIV Report - Press Release, 03 August 2011
FULL REPORT: UNAIDS and the ATHENA Network: Community Innovation: Achieving sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls through the HIV response
Our Philosophy of Care
MCRH believes that women's needs related to HIV and reproductive health care are often inextricably linked. Not only do reproductive health clients need to understand their risks for HIV and take these risks into account when making decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, but HIV-positive women have pregnancy prevention and/or planning needs as well general gynecological issues. Reproductive health providers also have access to many women who may never seek the services of an independent HIV/AIDS tester or service provider.
The integration of these services better meets women’s needs and offers them more comprehensive information for decision making.
Our Programs and Services
Routine HIV Testing for All Patients and Community Testing
MCRH offers rapid HIV testing for all of our patients in accordance with CDC Recommendations for routine HIV screening of adults, adolescents, and pregnant women in health care settings. MCRH also offers testing free to the community. People who are infected with HIV but not aware of it are not able to take advantage of the therapies that can keep them healthy and extend their lives, nor are they as able to protect their sex or drug-use partners from becoming infected. Knowing whether they are positive or negative for HIV is important to all patients’ health and decision making.
Ryan White Part A Outpatient Medical Services
MCRH provides outpatient reproductive health care for persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) through the Ryan White Part A program administered by the Shelby County Government Division of Community Services. Medical services available include: Testing and Treatment for Sexually Transmitted Infections; PAP Tests and Abnormal PAP Test follow-up; Colposcopies; Breast Exams; Pregnancy Planning Counseling; Pregnancy Prevention Counseling; and Menopause Management.
Other Outpatient Medical Services
In addition to our services funded by Ryan White Part A, MCRH also offers:
Parallel Paths
Parallel Paths seeks to increase awareness, knowledge, and collaborations among reproductive health and HIV/AIDS service providers in order to ensure that the sexual health needs of women in Memphis/Shelby County are met in a comprehensive manner. This project provides education and cross-training to clinicians and case managers working in both fields, builds relationships between providers in different specialties, and provides direct education services in a variety of reproductive health topics to women living with HIV/AIDS. Lunch & Learn Sessions for Providers.
Caminos Paralelos
Caminos Paralelos builds on the Parallel Paths project to strengthen relationships and increase capacity among primary medical providers, reproductive health providers, and HIV/AIDS service providers serving local Latino communities. Project goals include reducing stigma and increasing accessibility of HIV testing and reproductive health care services within Latino communities, and increasing the capacity of those providers and their support staff to discuss HIV/AIDS and other reproductive health issues with their patients, and to provide referrals to patients for HIV testing and other reproductive health services.
Collaborators and Participating Providers:
Get Well Community Clinic • Centro Salud • Friends For Life • Community HIV Network
Current Research Projects and Collaborations
MCRH, in conjunction with Tom McGowan, PhD, Rhodes College, is currently working to assess the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of HIV positive women of childbearing age currently receiving medical care in the Memphis Transitional Grant Area (TGA). This research also seeks to determine which SRH services HIV positive women are receiving and whether their needs are currently being met. The data and analysis will be used to develop a written report to be disseminated and made readily available throughout the Memphis community, the state of Tennessee, and national partners.
Collaborators and Partners:
St. Jude Translational Trials Unit • Community HIV Network University of Tennessee Medical Groups High Risk OB Clinic • Adult Special Care Clinic at the MED • Positive Women’s Network (PWN) – Oakland, CA
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Medical Services
High Risk OB Clinic • 
