Ryan White Title III HIV Capacity Development and Planning Grants - Address: 1801 N 7th St, West Monroe, LA 71291 Project Director: Mark L. Windham, CEO Contact Phone Number: 318-325-1092, ext. 118 Email Address: mark@go-care.org Website Address: www.go-care.org Grant Funds Requested in the Application: $82,954.32 The Greater Ouachita Coalition Providing AIDS Resources and Education, Inc., d/b/a GO CARE Community Health Center, is a Ryan White Part C grantee, a Ryan White Part B/HOPWA sub-grantee, and a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike. The Ryan White service area is the 12 parish (county) region of Northeast Louisiana, which encompasses approximately 7,240 square miles, while the FQHC service area consists of Ouachita Parish and its six (06) contiguous parishes encompassing 4,510 square miles -- all of which are largely rural. In 2022, 36.98% of the health center's 2,020 patients seen, were living with HIV. There is significant need for accessible affordable dental care in the health center's service areas. Based on UDS Mapper, within the FQHC PSA, 47.03%, equating to 129,777 adults, reported that they had not visited a dentist in the past year (Source: America’s Health Rankings 2021). This number is greater for the larger, more rural service area of the Ryan White program. Oral health access presents a particular challenge for a unique portion of GCCHC’s patient population, specifically our patients living with HIV. According to a recent article published by the American Dental Association, while antiretroviral therapies have reduced the overall prevalence of oral manifestations of HIV, HIV-related oral conditions still occur in 30-80% of individuals living with HIV. These orofacial conditions are readily detectable thorough examinations of the oral cavity. Caries prevalence in HIV-infected children is higher compared to non-infected children, though similar to that of other children with chronic illnesses. Increased caries prevalence may be due to traditional risk factors in addition to a reduction in salivary antibodies, absolute lymphocyte count and salivary flow rate, or a diet rich in sucrose or carbohydrates required to prevent or treat caloric deficits. It is projected that 30-80% of adults living with HIV will present with HIV-related oral abnormalities. As in children, xerostomia is common, occurring in up to 40% of patients living with HIV. The health center plans to improve its patients' oral health outcomes by providing dental care services onsite. These services will be implemented late-2023 to early-2024 with relocation and expansion of services to a 24,000 square foot service site. This new site will include a dental clinic with 6 operatories and panoramic x-ray. Direct dental service will enable the health center to expand dental services to the general, civilian population, which is predominantly low-income and medically underserved. Based on 2022 patient demographics, the health center estimates at least 36.98% of its dental patients will be living with HIV; therefore, the health center seeks to fund 36.98% of its $224,322.12 dental equipment costs -- or $82,954.32 -- through Ryan White Part C Capacity Development funds.
