Mobile teen clinic begins in October

HARRIS, NY — The Catskill Adolescent Treatment Services (CATS) program for Sullivan County teens and young adults will offer services in October from Tuesday through Thursday aboard Catskill Regional Medical Center’s (CRMC) new HealthMobile.

The program is a comprehensive healthcare outreach service aimed at local residents aged 13 to 21. It offers confidential medical care and other assistance to teens whether they have insurance or not. A staff on the bus-sized coach can assist clients in dealing with health and social issues including HIV and sexually transmitted disease testing, treatment and counseling, drug use, pregnancy testing, contraception, mental health evaluations and physical exams for school or working papers.

These expanded services are part of a $115,000 grant that CATS will receive over the next four years from the New York State Department of Health’s AIDS Institute. The program will continue to be based in the office of Gary Good, M.D., doctor of infectious diseases at CRMC, and will be administered by Gerard Ilaria, CSW. Three adolescent peer educators will be aboard the HealthMobile, including Charlene Carroll, Krystle Freebes, Angela Gonzalez, Julie Goodman, Shana Kelly, Matt Mikaelian, Kate Orr, Eric Parkhurst and Daniel Patton. The team also includes certified pediatric nurse practitioner John Nelson and HealthMobile drivers Leon Elder and Dan Spanjer.

“Making health care services confidential, affordable and accessible has always been a problem in reaching high-risk adolescents and young adults,” John Nelson said.

“Being in a rural setting makes that task even more difficult. Now we can provide harm-reducing information and health care to adolescents and young adults in a manner that’s easy and comfortable for them.”

The HealthMobile will visit the following locations throughout October:

• Sullivan County Community College dorms on October 7 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

• Inger Park in South Fallsburg on October 14 from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m.

• Delaware youth center in Callicoon on October 21 from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m.

• LMCS in Livingston Manor on October 28 from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m.

• LaPolt Park in Liberty on Wednesday October 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

• Fitness Factory shopping center in Monticello on Thursday, October 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m.

For more information on CATS call 845/794-3300, ext. 2827.

Flu shots available

The HealthMobile also offers flu shots, state-of-the-art mammography, prescription lab work, multi-screening lab tests including a package of 12 common lab tests for $29.95 available without a prescription, health literature and videos. Appointments are preferred but not necessary. The following October schedule for the HealthMobile is subject to change:

• Callicoon on Monday, October 6 and 20.

• Glen Spey on Wednesday, October 8 and 22.

• Eldred on Tuesday, Oct 14 and 28.

• Jeffersonville on Wednesday, October 1 and Friday October 10 and 24.

• Livingston Manor on Monday, October 27.

• Mamakating on Friday, October 3 and 17.

• Narrowsburg on Thursday, October 9 and 23.

• Neversink on Wednesday, October 15.

• Roscoe on Tuesday, October 7 and 21.

• Woodridge on Thursday, October 16.

For exact locations, hours and appointment information, call the HealthMobile hotline at 845/794-3300, ext. 2929.