PageA5
A pril 16. 2008
H ealth MATTERS
Russell Street Dentists Hang On
Low-income,
HIV-positive
patients get care
at b e lo w -m a rke t rates. O th e rc lin ic s refuse-
sents the general strugg le to care fo r
such patients w h o som etim es su ffe r tooth
dam age fro m m eth o r drugs o r have lost
underserved men and w om en.
“ T he am ount o f d is c rim in a tio n in the
th e ir s a liv a 's plaq ue-b ustin g properties
ea rly years ( o f H I V ) has been w e ll-d o c u ­
because o f H IV .
Rosenstein received a slap in the face
tients w h o tell me that th e ir dentists arc
this year w hen O regon H ealth Sciences
refusing to see th e m ."
by R aymond R endi . eman
U n iv e rs ity , the c lin ic b u ild in g 's ow ne r,
Som e dentists con tinu e to fear c o n ­
m ented,” Rosenstein says. " I s till get pa­
c la im e d a need to shut
tracting H IV fro m patients, even though
A 2 7 -y e a r-o ld fo rm e r
d o w n the services as part
there have not been cases o f this d o cu ­
m e th a m p h e ta m in e a d d ict
o f a la rg e r resh uffle. F o l­
mented. T he greater problem has becom e
g o t his m ou th checked fo r
lo w in g the p u b lic o u tc ry
how to fin d dentists w h o are w illin g to
the firs t tim e in years at the
a g a in s t
T he P ortland O bserver
th e
p la n ,
accept the lo w e r rates o ffe re d by m ost
Russell Street Dental Clinic-
R osenstein's n o w c o n f i­
cash-paying patients o r by p u b lic in su r­
last week. T he de ntist to ld
dent that Russell Street w ill
h im the bad news: N o th in g
re c e iv e e n o u g h fe d e ra l
ance.
"N u m b e r one, you have the problem o f
c o u ld be saved on the up­
grant m onies to keep lo w -
people w h o are lo w -in co m e , people w ho
per h a lf o f his m ou th ; 20
incom e m ou th overhauls
are H IV -p o s itiv e not ha vin g the funds to
teeth w o u ld have to be e x ­
g o in g fo r the foreseeable
purchase dental care, and num ber tw o,
tracted. T h e go od news:
future.
som etim es when those fo lk s get e ith e r the
T h e h o o p la stem m ed
fu n d in g o r the insurance, lik e M e d ica id ,
fro m fin a n c ia l challenges
dentists a re n 't w illin g to treat th e m ,"
w hen
Rosenstein says.
E nough w o u ld be le ft to
b u ild dentures.
“ W e ’ re g o in g to be able
Dr. David Rosenstein
OHSU
lo s t
its
$2(X).(X X) malpractice lia b il­
to get you som ething, and
that is w h a t’ s im p o rta n t,” said D a v id
it y cap th ro u g h a la w s u it.
Rosenstein, the c lin ic 's fo u n d e r w h o t y p i­
R ussell Street D ental C lin ic has avoided
A lth o u g h
c a lly sees at least one set o f teeth re q u irin g
m alpractice ru lin g s, the co n tin u a tio n o f its
reco n stru ctio n every tim e he com es in to
services were threatened by association
the o ffic e .
w ith the m edical school.
T he fa c ility at 214 N. Russell serves
F or Rosenstein, w h o began seeing H I V ­
patients on M ed ica re , in reco very o r d ia g ­
p o sitive patients in the ea rly 1980s, the
nosed w ith H IV , m any o f w h o m pay cash
fig h t to keep the dental c lin ic open repre-
photo by R aymond R endleman /T he P ortland O bserver
David Rosenstein o f the Russell
Street Dental Clinic examines a
patient, one o f more than 4,000
people it sees yearly. Many that it
serves pay cash at below market
rates, are on Medicare, in
recovery or diagnosed with HIV.
MMHIHMMNBSMMMMMMRM
System Not Ready for Boomers
(A P ) — M illio n s o f baby boom ers are
R ow e headed an In stitu te o f M e d icin e
because o f its lo w reim bursem ent rates, a
about to enter a system o f health care fo r
co m m itte e that released a report M on da y
focus on treatin g sho rt-te rm health p ro b ­
seniors that not o n ly isn 't ready fo r them ,
on the health care o u tlo o k fo r the 78 m il lion
lems rather than m anaging ch ro n ic c o n d i­
but m ay even discourage them fro m get­
baby boom ers about to begin tu rn in g 65.
tions and lack o f coverage fo r preventive
tin g q u a lity treatm ent.
"W e face an im pending crisis as the
T he rep ort fro m the in stitu te, an arm o f
services o r fo r health care pro vid ers' tim e
the N a tio n a l A ca d e m y o f Sciences, said
spent c o lla b o ra tin g w ith a patient's other
g ro w in g num ber o f olde r patients, w h o are
there aren't enough specialists in g e ria tric
pro vid ers.
liv in g longer w ith m ore com p le x health
m edicine: in su fficie n t tra in in g is available;
needs, increasingly outpaces the num ber o f
the specialists that do exist are underpaid:
health care providers w ith the know ledge
and M ed ica re fa ils to p ro vid e fo r team care
and skills to care fo r them capably," said
that m any e ld e rly patients need.
John W . Rowe, professor o f health p o licy
and management at C o lu m b ia U n ive rsity.
Maria Ayala Chavez (left) and
Theresa McNeil, use hand weights
as part o f an exercise class at an
ElderHealtli Northwest adult day
health center in Seattle.
T he study said M e d ica re m ay even
h in d e r seniors fro m g e ttin g the best care
MMNMMMMHMNNNI
H e a l t h W a tch
Parenting C lasses - N ew borns
d o n 't com e w ith in stru ctio n manu
W om en ’s Health C onference -
als but parents and parents-to-be
A p r il 16. fr o m 6 t o 7 :3 0 p .m .,d ia b e ­
Saturday, A p r il 26, fro m 7:30a.m . to
can learn about a va rie ty o f top ics
tes educators w ill discuss the pros
2:3 0 p.m ., a m eeting at the O regon
fro m
and cons o f pum ps, n u tritio n is­
C o n v e n tio n C enter, w ill focus on
breastfeeding to in fa n t CT’ R and
sues, types and upgrade o p tio n s in
ho w green liv in g can b e ne fit y o u r
m uch m ore. F o r a schedule o f
a free w o rksho p. T o register, call
health, w ith guest speakers and
events, ca ll 50 3-574-6595 o r v is it
5 0 3 4 13-7226.
w o rksho ps; $40 a ll-d a y fee. T o reg­
P rovide nce.o rg /classe s.
Diabetes T reatment - Wednesday,
p a in
a n d c h i ld b ir t h
to
Education,
Mentorship,
Autonomy,
Support
Planned Parenthood of the
Columbia/Willamette has been
helping women, men and teens
make responsible choices for
44 years. Planned Parenthood
is committed to delivering the
highest quality reproductive
health care, teaching
responsible and age-appropri­
ate sexuality education and
has been working diligently to
protect a women's right to
choose. Come spend your days
helping others improve their
reproductive health.
ister, visito h su w o m e n sh e a lth .co m .
Bereavem ent Support Groups
W elcom e to M edicare -T hursday,
Are you at Risk? - A focus on leg
Free, c o n fid e n tia l gro up m eetings
C o u n ty A g in g and D is a b ility Ser­
and c a ro tid disease takes place
fo r those w h o have experienced the
vices w ill con du ct the free classes
T uesday, A p r il 29, fro m 6 :3 0 to 8
death o f a loved one offe re d on
fo r those new to M ed ica re , h e lp in g
p.m . w ith experts discussing w hat
various nights and locations, l o r
to e x p la in the fundam entals o f p u b ­
puts you at risk, treatm ent op tion s,
in fo rm a tio n and reg istratio n, call
lic insurance. F or m ore in fo rm a tio n ,
n u tritio n and prevention; free w o rk ­
503-2154622.
call 5 0 3 4 9 1-7572.
shop. T oreg ister.call 503-335-3500.
A p ril 17 ,fro m 7 to 9 p .m „M u ltn o m a h
C a n c e r R e so u r c e C e n te r
W om en’s Wellness; Breast Health
P ro v id e n c e St. V in c e n t M e d ic a l
A p r il 19, fro m 9 a.m . to 3 p .m ., at
- S a tu rd a y ,M a y IO ,fro m IO a .rn .to
C e n te r and the A m e ric a n
195(H) S.E. Stark St., couples w ill
l p.m ., at L egacy G oo d Sam aritan.
C ross have jo in e d fo rce s to c re ­
C ouples W orkshop — S aturday,
Red
learn essential re la tio n s h ip s k ills ,
B u ild in g T w o - lo w e r level. I0 4 0
ate the fir s t in -h o s p ita l resource
in clu d in g c o n flic t m anagement, and
N .W . 22nd A ve. Free event fea­
c e n te r p r o v id in g b o o ks, p rin te d
u n d e rs ta n d in g c o m m u n ic a tio n
tures a catered brunch, guest speak­
m a te ria l, c o m p u te r access and
styles; $ 5 0 per couple. T o register,
ers and booths w ith topics in c lu d ­
m ore f o r in d iv id u a ls and fa m ilie s
call 503-286-6816.
in g cancer genetics, breast im a g ­
d e a lin g w ith cancer. T h e ce n te r is
ing, bone de nsity and m ore. T o
open M o n d a y th ro u g h T h u rs d a y .
C hildren's Health W ellness Fair -
register, ca ll 5O3-335-35(H).
9 a.m . t o 4 p.m .
Planned Parenthood
of the ColumbiaAVillamette
-W ednesday. A p ril 23, fro m 4 p .m . to
8 p.m ., the C h ild re n 's C o m m u n ity
Peer-to-Peer Recovery - Peer-to-
C lin ic w ill sponsor a w ellness fa ir at
peer education recovery course is
S e lf Enhancement, Inc. prom oting
a free, nine -w ee k course on the
n u tritio n , health issues and fitness.
to p ic o f reco very fo r any person
W hat About Boys - W ednesday,
courses arc led by m entors w h o are
A p r il 23, fro m 7 to 9 p .m ., Legacy
reco verin g fro m m ental illness and
M e ridia n Park H ospital, 19300S.W .
are trained to teach cop in g strate­
65th A v e ., w ill host the fo ru m d is ­
gies to others. F or m ore in fo rm a -
cussing the d e ve lo p m e n ta l p e r­
tio n .c a ll 503-228-5692.
w ith a serious m ental illness. The
the way. Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital features cancer care
that is complete, skillful and supportive.
spectives o f ra ising yo u n g boys
and the pro blem s they arc fa cin g
H ealth Inequities - I lie p u b lic is
today; $5 fee at the door. T o reg is­
in v ite d to jo in in the d ia lo g u e s
ter,call 503-335-3500.
w ith c o m m u n ity m em b ers, o rg a ­
n iz a tio n s , bu sin ess leaders and
Let’s Talk About It - W ednesday,
In the battle that’s cancer, you need the finest care every step of
We have specialists for almost every type of cancer, plus the
latest in technology and treatment As part of our support services,
our cancer nurse navigators guide you through the care. All here
lo c a l e le cte d o f f ic ia ls to discuss
A p ril 23, fro m 7 to 8:30 p.m ., expert
the ro o t causes o f h e a lth in e q u i­
George K ova l w ill discuss causes
tie s as w e ll as lo n g -te rm s o lu ­
and treatments fo r the com m on dis­
tio n s in a th is s e ve n -p a rt series.
order IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
F o r n e ig h b o r h o o d
For m ore in fo rm a tio n on this free
d a te s
session, call 503-574-6595.
M c h e a lth .o r g /h e a lth e q u ity .
and
lo c a t io n s ,
t im e s
v is it
for you, every day.
To learn more about our complete cancer services, please
see www.legacyhealth.org/cancer. To find a doctor who is
right for you, please call 503-335-3500.
Do You Know Your Numbers? -
Tools for C aregivers - S ix-w eek
Thursday, A p ril 24, receive a per­
educational series are o ffe re d to
sonalized measurement and analy­
help fa m ily caregivers take care o f
1015 NW 22ndA w >nur
Portland. Oregon
sis o f b h x x l pressure, cholesterol
them selves w h ile c a rin g fo r a rela­
www.leqatygoocham antan.orq
levels, lean body mass, fat w eight
tiv e o r frie n d w ith a ch ro n ic illness.
and optim al w eight; $30 fee. appoint­
T he classes arc being held at sev­
ments available fro m 7 to 10 p.m ; to
eral lo catio ns and dates. C a ll 503-
register, call 503-335-35< M).
4 13-6465 fo r m ore in fo rm a tio n .
UGKY
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