Table 3.C Summary Case Study Sites - Public Health, Other Health Care

Hinds Co

Hinds County is a separate Public Health District from the other nine geographically based Districts in the state. The Mississippi State Department of Health operates several clinics in the Jackson Metropolitan Area, including an HIV/STD clinic (Ellis Avenue Clinic) which was opened in July 1995.

Most low-income residents of Hinds County seek health care at the several clinics operated by Jackson/Hinds Comprehensive Health Center (JHCHC), which offers comprehensive services on a sliding fee scale. There are 11 hospitals in Jackson with a total of 2,294 beds.

Humphreys Co

Humphreys County is part of Public Health District III, based in neighboring Greenwood, and there is a Health Department Clinic in the town of Belzoni.

There are two family practice clinics run by private physicians in Belzoni as well as the Humphreys County Hospital. The town of Isola has a rural health clinic, and a clinic was opened in the small town of Louise in 1995.

Richland Co

The Public Health Department in Richland County falls within the four-county Palmetto District, based in Columbia. The Public Health Department operates several clinics in the District, including STD clinics at its offices in Columbia and in Lexington County.

Another source of healthcare for low-income residents is Richland Primary Health Care, a not-for-profit care provider with two clinics in Richland County. Planned Parenthood operates a clinic in Columbia with reproductive services, including STD testing. There is a VA medical center on the east side of Columbia, and emergency room care is available from two private hospitals (Columbia Memorial and Baptist).

Orangeburg Co

The Health Department in Orangeburg is the headquarters of the Edisto District. There are also three satellite clinics throughout the County.

In Orangeburg County, the federally funded Family Health Center (FHC) is the main source of primary care. Operating on a sliding-fee scale, FHC offers adult medicine, pediatric medicine, urgent care, ob/gyn, and dental services. FHC also has a health educator and social worker, a mobile unit, and operates seven satellite clinics throughout the county. The Regional Medical Center is an acute-care facility located in the city of Orangeburg; South Carolina State University has the Brooks Health Center on its campus.

Shelby Co

The Memphis/Shelby County Health Department operates as a distinct Public Health Region in Tennessee. The Health Department STD clinic is located in the Memphis central city; five satellite clinics are operated in low-income areas throughout Memphis.

There are five major hospitals in Memphis. The working poor can access the Church Health Center, funded by donations from 150 local church congregations. Tenncare is the statewide program designed to replace Medicaid and other health entitlement programs.

Tunica Co

Tunica County is one of nine counties in Mississippi Public Health District I, and there is one DIS responsible for the county. The town of Tunica has a Health Department clinic that offers WIC services and family planning, including STD testing, treatment, and counseling.

The Aaron E. Henry Health Center (AEH) operates a clinic in the town of Tunica with full medical care on a sliding fee scale. AEH also opened a school-based clinic in 1991, and has health educators serving the county. Methodist Family Medical Center has a full-time and a part-time physician, a nurse practitioner, and also offers full medical services. African-American residents go either to AEH or to Methodist, and white residents are said to go to Memphis for health care.

Montgomery Co

Montgomery County, as of October 1, 1995, is part of Public Health Area (PHA) 8. In terms of STD epidemiology and follow-up, it is part of PHA 12 with five other counties. The Health Department STD clinic, known as the Specialty Clinic, is located in the Montgomery County Health Department building.

Due to the lack of public hospitals in the city of Montgomery, a rotating "ER of the Day" arrangement, where emergency room services are alternated daily among three private hospitals, was instituted in the late 1980s. Lister Hill Health Center and Montgomery Primary Health Care are community health centers offering full services. The Montgomery Regional Medical Center and the Health Department maternity clinic have instituted the "Gift of Life Foundation" to provide prenatal and obstetric care to low-income pregnant women in Montgomery. Montgomery AIDS Outreach operates clinics, conducts HIV/AIDS counseling services, and does outreach activities in and around Montgomery.

Lowndes Co

As of October 1995, Lowndes County became part of Public Health Area (PHA) 7. However it is also one of the six counties, along with Montgomery, that comprise PHA 12 for STD services. The local Health Department clinic is located in Hayneville, and the Disease Investigator responsible for the county is based in Montgomery.

The most utilized health care facility in Lowndes County is the West Alabama Health Services (WAHS) center in Hayneville, which offers comprehensive health and dental services. WAHS also operates a school-based clinic in the town of Whitehall. Also located in Hayneville is the Four Rivers Health Clinic. A private physician has an office in Fort Deposit.