Central Health will prioritize updates to David Powell clinic

At Wednesday’s Central Health Board of Managers meeting, Board Member Maram Museitif advocated for updates to the David Powell Health Center, a CommUnityCare clinic near the intersection of the Interstate 35 frontage road and 46th Street that specializes in the treatment of HIV-positive adults. Museitif said that the clinic appeared very outdated and recommended modernizations to make it “welcoming and inviting to our patients.” Board Member Shannon Jones also expressed concern that the location of the David Powell clinic could impede access to care for populations of color, stating that its current location was never intended to be permanent, and Museitif suggested Central Health increase outreach efforts to populations of color. Additionally, Jones questioned the wisdom of asking all HIV-positive patients to receive treatment at one location, noting that HIV is a disease that is still stigmatized. Board Chair Guadalupe Zamora, a practicing physician, noted that, due to the specialized and constantly changing nature of HIV medicine, it is important to keep HIV medical providers together in a central location. CEO Mike Geeslin stated that Central Health will be developing a formal process to assess needed maintenance and updates at its clinics. Funds for planning and design of new capital projects as well as repair and maintenance of existing facilities is included in Central Health’s recently passed 2019-20 budget, Vice President of Communications Ted Burton said in an email. Museitif said she plans to address needed updates for the David Powell Health Center at an upcoming Central Health Real Estate Committee meeting and bring recommended solutions back to the full board. The date and agenda for the next meeting has not yet been set, but will be posted to the Central Health website when it has been scheduled, Burton said.