Contributed photo Catskill Regional Medical Center’s mobile health van will be used part time by the C.A.T.S. program. (Click for larger image)

C.A.T.S. receives four-year grant

By RICHARD A. ROSS

HARRIS, NY — The health picture for teens in Sullivan County just got brighter.

The Catskill Adolescent Treatment Service (C.A.T.S.) just received a four-year grant from the New York State Department of Health. C.A.T.S., now fully funded through a federal grant from the Ryan White Care Act, was initiated this past September by Catskill Regional Medical Center. The program addresses the traditional barriers to adolescent health care, notably confidentiality, transportation and cost of services.

The grant for adolescent HIV prevention will allow C.A.T.S. to continue to provide numerous health services for teens at the hospital such as physical exams (including gynecological exams, when necessary), screenings, necessary treatment, lab work and counseling.

In addition, the newly acquired mobile health van will soon be visiting communities around the county providing increased access to teens. The C.A.T.S. team is staffed by a pediatric nurse practitioner John Nelson, C.P.N.P., a social worker Jaye Johnson, C.S.W., consulting psychiatrist Moatza Yousef, M.D, consulting infectious disease physician Gary Good, M.D. and a program administrator Gerard Illaria, C.S.W.

Nelson reports than many teens have been visiting the hospital to access C.A.T.S’ services.

The schedule for the van visits hasn’t been set yet, but the plan is to locate it one night a week in Monticello, one in Liberty and the third night in a different town each week. Logistics about where the van can be parked, as well as the schedule for its deployment are yet to be worked out.

The van will serve a dual purpose.

From 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each day, it will be used to provide mammography services around the county as soon as a mammography tech person has been hired. From 2:00 p.m. on, the van will be deployed by C.A.T.S. Currently, the C.A.T.S. program operates out of Dr. Good’s office at the Catskill Regional Medical Center Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

For questions about C.A.T.S. or to refer adolescents or families, call John Nelson at the hospital at 845/794-3300, extension 2827 or 2630.