Thomas Street—The Road to Health

Thomas Giordano, M.D., directs a multi-institutional group that has a single purpose—provide the best, most comprehensive treatment possible for those with HIV/AIDS.

"We need to talk about it. Stop the secrecy. That's what's killing everybody," said Austin. The secret is HIV/AIDS and the fact that people are still getting infected with it in Houston and around the world.

Diagnosed with HIV/AIDS more than 10 years ago, Austin is a patient at the Thomas Street Health Center, a facility for people with HIV/AIDS operated by the Harris County Hospital District. However, more than that, she shares her experience with the disease and supports others who are newly diagnosed as part of a patient mentoring program.

"We meet anyone new to the center and spend the entire day with them. We show them around, talk to them and, in a way, teach them how to live with their new diagnosis," Austin said.

The patient mentoring program is just one of the many details that make the Thomas Street Health Center an all-encompassing, patientoriented HIV health center.

Thomas Street History

Located just north of downtown Houston, Thomas Street was first a railroad hospital for Southern Pacific Railroad. At one time, it was also a recovery clinic for cancer patients from The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. During the height of the AIDS epidemic in Houston and the United States, when a diagnosis with the disease was essentially a death sentence, Thomas Street Health Center opened in 1989 after much debate. (HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, the cause of AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome.)

Under the jurisdiction of the Harris County Hospital District, the health center currently treats more than 4,000 patients each year.

"What's unique is that doctors from both Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston treat patients here," said Thomas Giordano, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine-Infectious Disease at BCM and Medical Director of the Thomas Street Health Center. "Each institution has its own specialties, but they work together to improve patient care and support new research."

All in the Details

Joyce Austin (left) has lived with HIV for more than 10 years. Through Thomas Street's patient mentoring program, she helps other patients, like Diane Rodriguez, learn to live with their diagnosis.

"Our goal at Thomas Street is to be a comprehensive facility able to respond to the changing needs of our patients," Girodano said.

Patients can see a number of specialists at Thomas Street, including endocrinology, dermatology and oncology. There is also an in-house pharmacy, a physical therapy department and a fulltime nutritionist.

A team of nurses, a nurse practitioner and a critical and emergency medicine physician are available to meet the needs of patients with urgent care needs. If necessary, patients are stabilized before being transferred to an emergency room.

"Thomas Street could be described as a one-stop shop, and that is really what benefits the patients," Giordano said. "All the medical professionals at the Health Center only work with AIDS patients. Across the board, the expertise is here."

Thomas Street Health Center extends to other parts of the Houston area through two satellite clinics, the Northwest Health Center and the Settegast Health Center, both located north of Houston.

Finding Support

An area of growth has been in social services, which include anything from helping to coordinate care and financial assistance to nurses helping patients create pill boxes to ensure they stay on schedule with the medications. Support groups and counseling are also available.

"Some who come here have economic challenges, substance abuse issues and other instabilities," said Pete Rodriguez, Director of HIV services at the Harris County Hospital District. "If there is a support channel, patients are more likely to stay in care and take better care of themselves."

Family-centered case management programs work with pregnant women and support families, including the children of those who have the disease. A new program this year involves home health care. Federal funding from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Action of 2006 allows the Harris County Hospital District to contract with an outside home health agency to send nurses and other medical professionals to care for patients in their homes.

One avenue of support that is being expanded is the patient mentor program, of which Austin is a part.

"People come here confused or upset. I'm here to show them that you can live with this disease. It's not the end of the world," Austin said.

Diane Rodriguez, also a patient and patient mentor, adds, "Just talking to someone who is in your shoes sometimes helps you get through the day. It did for me when I was first diagnosed."

Knowledge is Key

While continuing to educate the community on how to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS is important, Giordano said testing is what will slow the spread of AIDS. Rapid HIV testing is available at all community health centers in the Harris County Hospital District.

"About half of the HIV transmission is estimated to occur among those who are infected but just don't know it," Giordano said. "Once a person knows he or she is infected, that person is more likely to stop high-risk activity like unprotected sex."

Jeff Benavidez, a health educator at the Thomas Street Health Center, agrees that education plays a major part in slowing the spread of HIV.

"I work with patients. I teach them about preventative measures (to prevent spread of the disease), how to understand things like T-cell counts and how to read their own blood work," he said. "Knowing about the disease not only improves a person's health, but also allows that person to take control of the disease and his or her life."

Thomas Street History

All in the Details

Finding Support

Knowledge is Key

Features

News

Spotlight

Briefs

Development/Alumni

Development Briefs

Volume 4, Issue 3, Winter 2008


	Thomas Street—The Road to Health by Graciela Gutierrez Thomas Giordano, M.D., directs a multi-institutional group that has a single purpose—provide the best, most comprehensive treatment possible for those with HIV/AIDS. Joyce Austin knows a deadly secret, and she wants to make it public. "We need to talk about it. Stop the secrecy. That's what's killing everybody," said Austin. The secret is HIV/AIDS and the fact that people are still getting infected with it in Houston and around the world. Diagnosed with HIV/AIDS more than 10 years ago, Austin is a patient at the Thomas Street Health Center, a facility for people with HIV/AIDS operated by the Harris County Hospital District. However, more than that, she shares her experience with the disease and supports others who are newly diagnosed as part of a patient mentoring program. "We meet anyone new to the center and spend the entire day with them. We show them around, talk to them and, in a way, teach them how to live with their new diagnosis," Austin said. We need to talk about it. Stop the secrecy. The patient mentoring program is just one of the many details that make the Thomas Street Health Center an all-encompassing, patientoriented HIV health center. Thomas Street History Located just north of downtown Houston, Thomas Street was first a railroad hospital for Southern Pacific Railroad. At one time, it was also a recovery clinic for cancer patients from The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. During the height of the AIDS epidemic in Houston and the United States, when a diagnosis with the disease was essentially a death sentence, Thomas Street Health Center opened in 1989 after much debate. (HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, the cause of AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome.) Under the jurisdiction of the Harris County Hospital District, the health center currently treats more than 4,000 patients each year. "What's unique is that doctors from both Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston treat patients here," said Thomas Giordano, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine-Infectious Disease at BCM and Medical Director of the Thomas Street Health Center. "Each institution has its own specialties, but they work together to improve patient care and support new research." All in the Details Joyce Austin (left) has lived with HIV for more than 10 years. Through Thomas Street's patient mentoring program, she helps other patients, like Diane Rodriguez, learn to live with their diagnosis. "Our goal at Thomas Street is to be a comprehensive facility able to respond to the changing needs of our patients," Girodano said. Patients can see a number of specialists at Thomas Street, including endocrinology, dermatology and oncology. There is also an in-house pharmacy, a physical therapy department and a fulltime nutritionist. A team of nurses, a nurse practitioner and a critical and emergency medicine physician are available to meet the needs of patients with urgent care needs. If necessary, patients are stabilized before being transferred to an emergency room. "Thomas Street could be described as a one-stop shop, and that is really what benefits the patients," Giordano said. "All the medical professionals at the Health Center only work with AIDS patients. Across the board, the expertise is here." Thomas Street Health Center extends to other parts of the Houston area through two satellite clinics, the Northwest Health Center and the Settegast Health Center, both located north of Houston. Finding Support An area of growth has been in social services, which include anything from helping to coordinate care and financial assistance to nurses helping patients create pill boxes to ensure they stay on schedule with the medications. Support groups and counseling are also available. "Some who come here have economic challenges, substance abuse issues and other instabilities," said Pete Rodriguez, Director of HIV services at the Harris County Hospital District. "If there is a support channel, patients are more likely to stay in care and take better care of themselves." Family-centered case management programs work with pregnant women and support families, including the children of those who have the disease. A new program this year involves home health care. Federal funding from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Action of 2006 allows the Harris County Hospital District to contract with an outside home health agency to send nurses and other medical professionals to care for patients in their homes. One avenue of support that is being expanded is the patient mentor program, of which Austin is a part. "People come here confused or upset. I'm here to show them that you can live with this disease. It's not the end of the world," Austin said. Diane Rodriguez, also a patient and patient mentor, adds, "Just talking to someone who is in your shoes sometimes helps you get through the day. It did for me when I was first diagnosed." Knowledge is Key While continuing to educate the community on how to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS is important, Giordano said testing is what will slow the spread of AIDS. Rapid HIV testing is available at all community health centers in the Harris County Hospital District. "About half of the HIV transmission is estimated to occur among those who are infected but just don't know it," Giordano said. "Once a person knows he or she is infected, that person is more likely to stop high-risk activity like unprotected sex." Jeff Benavidez, a health educator at the Thomas Street Health Center, agrees that education plays a major part in slowing the spread of HIV. "I work with patients. I teach them about preventative measures (to prevent spread of the disease), how to understand things like T-cell counts and how to read their own blood work," he said. "Knowing about the disease not only improves a person's health, but also allows that person to take control of the disease and his or her life."		Search all issues: Features Baylor College of Medicine in Houston: 65 years of Excellence BCM Looks to the Future on the McNair Campus Legacy of Leadership: BCM Icons Set Foundation for the Future 1,000 Genomes Project: Looking for the Differences News O'Malley Receives National Medal of Science Robert Todd Named to Lead BCM's Department of Medicine Roy Huffington Remembered as Bold and Generous Spotlight Following his Passion—One Physician's Journey The Search for Answers When Two Degrees are Better Than One: M.D. - M.P.H. Thomas Street—The Road to Health Perceiving—A new Look at Brain and Behavior Briefs Mind Games Wang Wins NIH Award Genetics Used to Personalize Heart Disease Treatment First Drug for Huntington's Disease Eye Problems from Pain Free Migraines Obesity also Causes Cirrhosis Genetic Insights into Deadly Brain Tumor Made-to-Order Weapon in the Fight Against Childhood Cancer BCM Joins Largest Children's Study Development/Alumni Minds & Medicine Campaign Update: McNair Campus gets First Tenants -- Ophthalmology Philanthropy Provided Key Assistance Gifts Help Restore Sight to Patients with Corneal Damage Alums Start Careers, Life Together at BCM Development Briefs Campaign Reaches Milestone Charitable Gifts Lead to National Recognition Trustee Chuck Watson Makes Unique Gift The Legacy and the Future

	Volume 4, Issue 3, Winter 2008



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