The HOPE Center
Macon, Georgia
The Center of Excellence
Interpretive Services Available on Request
HIV Maintenance Care Clinics -
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The HOPE Center hosts the only remaining doctor's clinic in the State of Georgia. Whether a consumer visits the Macon location, Baldwin County or Peach County satellite clinics the consumer will see an Infectious disease specialist as well as other associated medical professionals as needed.
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Physicians in the HIV Maintenance Care Clinics include Dr. Harold P. Katner and Dr. Jeffrey L. Stephens both Board Certified Internal Medicine Specialists and professors at Mercer University School of Medicine.
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Dr. Katner serves as the Statewide HIV/AIDS Medical Director
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Dr. Stephen's is Medical Director, Infection Control, at the Medical Center of Central Georgia
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Clinic hours - 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM Monday - Friday
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24/7 on call emergency care available
Primary Care for People With HIV -
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The HOPE Center provides the very best health care for HIV related diseases. The Center also provides excellent care for our HIV positive consumers who suffer from associative issues like diabetes and high blood pressure acting as a general practitioner clinic to reduce emergency room visits and long delays for appointments to see other physicians.
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Dr. Vincent Waite sees consumers in this clinic and works closely with Drs. Katner and Stephens to create an unparalleled continuum of health care for consumers.
Specialty Care Referrals -
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Doctors Katner, Stephens and Waite are excellent physicians however they can not provide for every health issue. Many times they will refer consumers to other physicians and clinics for further or more detailed care than can be provided through The HOPE Center. These referrals are made through The HOPE Center staff to get speedy appointments and insure consumers are served. Referrals may include but are not limited to:
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Surgical
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Gastroenterology
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Neurology
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High Risk OB/GYN
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Pain Management
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Renal (kidney and dialysis)
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Cardiac
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Orthopedic
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Dermatology
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Primary Care
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Vision
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Dental
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Oncology
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Mental Health
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Substance abuse
The HOPE Center enjoys formal affiliations with the Medical Center of Central Georgia, Oconee Regional Hospital, Houston Medical Center, Perry Hospital, River Edge Behavioral Health System, Oconee Center, and other regional care providers.
Pharmacy Services -
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ADAP (AIDS Drug Assistance Program) - Nurses, case managers, social workers and program assistants at The HOPE Center regularly determine eligibility for Ryan White assistance including ADAP which provides a comprehensive list of available HIV specific pharmaceuticals.
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Private insurance - The HOPE Center staff will assist consumers to utilize their private insurance to supply their needed medications and services including assistance with forms and disputed payments.
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W. T. Anderson Health Center Pharmacy - For consumers of the W. T. Anderson Heath Center, Dr. Katner, Dr. Stephens and Dr. Waite's prescriptions are honored thre if written on Medical Center prescription forms. You will need to let the doctor know you are an Anderson consumer before the prescriptions are written.
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Pharmacy (local clinical formulary) - A limited list of needed pharmaceuticals are available for eligible consumers needing general medications for high blood pressure, allergies, and other ailments.
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Pharmacy Assistance Services - Most pharmaceutical companies have programs to provide many of their products at little or no cost to consumers. The HOPE Center case management staff will assist you in applying for these programs or you can go to http://www.rxassist.org/ for a complete listing of available programs.
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Medicare Part D - Case management staff at The HOPE Center have conducted considerable research on available providers and can assist in choosing the best carriers for your particular medications and financial situation. Assistance is available for applying for the program you choose. For more information on available programs go to: http://www.quickbrochures.net/quickbrochures-medicare-directory-publications.htm
Laboratory Services - Laboratory specimens are collected on site by a highly qualified Certified Laboratory Technician.
Dental and Oral Care Services - The HOPE Center has contracts with local providers of dental services including:
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Dental Hygienist
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Routine and emergency extractions & fillings
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Dentures and partials
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Oral surgery
Vision Services -
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Consumers with CD4 counts below 50 are given dilated eye exams at a contracted provider.
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Outside referrals are made for other eye exams, contacts, glasses and other vision services.
Education Services -
Speakers Bureau -
Smoking Cessation Classes -
HIV Prevention, Counseling and Testing -
Case Management -
TCM - Targeted Case Management - The purpose of the targeted case management program is to assist individuals at risk for hospitalization with gaining access to a wide-range of services in the community including:
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medical care,
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nutritional services,
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social services,
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educational support,
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psychological services,
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transportation,
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housing,
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legal advice,
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financial aid.
The program is geared to people with AIDS with acute medical needs with its goal being to prevent hospitalizations through referral to appropriate community-based providers. Case managers obtain medical assessments, conduct psychosocial assessments with clients and family members and develop individualized service plans with clients. They also assist clients in locating service providers, contacting providers to schedule appointments, applying for entitlements, monitoring the appropriateness of the service delivery and following up if any problems are identified.
Eligibility for Targeted Case Management:
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Medicaid beneficiaries are required to meet the following criteria to be eligible for the program:
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be 21 years old or older
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have an AIDS diagnosis or symptomatic HIV disease
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need a specific intervention that requires acute problem-solving in one or more of the following situations: acute medical needs such as respite care, dialysis, home health care, and services required during the later stages of illness; loss of access to care; substance abuse; mental illness, homelessness; crisis such as unplanned pregnancy, loss of employment or social support
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be at risk of hospitalization
Standard Case Management - Case management can play an important role in the lives of people living with AIDS by helping them navigate health systems, coordinate multiple health care providers and manage complex drug regimens. These challenges can be especially difficult for Medicaid beneficiaries with AIDS who by virtue of qualifying for the program have very low incomes and are either unable to work due to their condition or are children or single parents.
Financial Counseling - Assistance with budgeting finances, accessing benefits; emergency financial assistance for rent, mortgage and utility assistance; food and medication assistance and referrals..
COBRA Assistance - The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time under certain circumstances such as voluntary or involuntary job loss, reduction in the hours worked, transition between jobs, death, divorce, and other life events. Qualified individuals may be required to pay the entire premium for coverage up to 102 percent of the cost to the plan.
COBRA generally requires that group health plans sponsored by employers with 20 or more employees in the prior year offer employees and their families the opportunity for a temporary extension of health coverage (called continuation coverage) in certain instances where coverage under the plan would otherwise end. COBRA outlines how employees and family members may elect continuation coverage. It also requires employers and plans to provide notice. The Ryan White program offers some assistance to make these premium payments for eligible beneficiaries. The HOPE Center case management ream will assist you in this eligibility and application process.
Nutrition
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Registered Dietician - The HOPE Center employs a Registered Dietician to better insure the health and wellbeing of our consumers. Special counseling and education are available for each consumers specific needs including meal plans, food lists, Body Mass Index, etc.
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Nutritional Supplements - The HOPE Center provides nutritional supplements in the forms indicated by the Registered Dietician that may include Ensure©, Boost©, etc.
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Nutrition Counseling Services - Registered Dietician offers nutritional counseling for diabetes, pre-renal, renal, weight loss and other special needs consumers.
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Food Pantry - Snacks, food bags and other nutritional items are available at The HOPE Center, The Rainbow Center and other community based organizations by referral.
Mental Health Services
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River Edge Behavioral Health Center - The HOPE Center has formal agreements with River Edge Behavioral Health System, the areas major mental health and substance abuse service provider.
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Phoenix Behavioral Health Services - Serves Houston, Peach and Crawford counties and is currently being absorbed by River Edge Behavioral Health System.
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Oconee Center - Serves Baldwin County and surrounding areas.
Legal Services - Georgia Legal Services AIDSLaw Project provides civil law services for eligible consumers. Assistance is available for benefits eligibility disputes with Social Security or private disability insurance; child custody, divorce, and other issues. Referrals are also made to other attorneys for pro bono (free) or reduced fee attorneys for consumers not eligible for Georgia Legal Services or for cases not accepted.
Community Support Services
The HOPE Center works closely with Central City AIDS Network, a local non profit AIDS Service Organization, to provide supportive services for consumers of The HOPE Center.
For all service needs call 211 from any telephone. 211 is a service of United Way and their trained operators will offer a list of providers to fit your service need. There is no charge for the telephone call.
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Food Pantry - A number of food pantries supply food products for those in need; some even serve hot meals daily.
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Housing - Multiple housing opportunities are available through many different agencies serving The HOPE Center consumers. Rental assistance, first time homebuyer programs, Section 8, homeless services and emergency financial assistance.
Central City AIDS Network and The Rainbow Center offer weekly HIV/AIDS support groups on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM in Macon and Second and fourth Mondays in Warner Robins. Call 478-750-8080 or 800-374-2437 for details and locations.
Central City AIDS Network offers Alcoholics Anonymous; Cocaine Anonymous; and Narcotics Anonymous meetings on a regular basis at The Rainbow Center; other substance abuse services are also offered as well as referral to other addiction services.
On the first Sunday of each month The Telegraph publishes a listing of all known support groups in the area.
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Emergency Financial Services - Limited financial assistance is available for rent, utilities, medicine co-payments and other necessities.
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Rental Assistance Programs - Limited assistance is available to assist in preventing evictions and utility cut-offs for eligible consumers.
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Transportation - The HOPE Center is on the Macon Transit Authority bus line; consumers with Medicaid are served by the State of Georgia Unified Transportation Service - LogistiCare (888-224-7981 for reservations); those with no other resources are served by a transportation van operated by Central City AIDS Network - call 478-731-6119 at least three days prior to appointment to schedule transportation service. Transportation is provided for medical appointments, lab and medication appointments.
Interpretive Services Available
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American Sign Language - Please indicate need for this service when you make your appointment
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Espanola - Indique por favor la necesidad para este servicio cuando usted concierta su cita.
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Please let us know if other interpretive services are needed; contact Patricia Yancey, RN.
Web Links
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Last Updated 02/16/2009
Designed by volunteers of The HOPE Center