Nonprofit 'Tulsa CARES' Adds First In House Doctor To Help Patients With HIV, Hepatitis C

A Tulsa non-profit that supports people living with HIV and Hepatitis C is opening a medical clinic.

Employees say in the past, Tulsa CARES helped people connect with doctors around town but now, they will be able to help in-house.

"We have had care coordinators who help with funding so that patients can get treated but we haven't actually had a medical component of being treated here by a provider," said Dr. Madhuri Lad with Tulsa CARES.

Tulsa CARES helps connect people living with HIV or Hepatitis C with resources for mental health, housing, and nutrition. Employees also help patients navigate the health care system to see the right doctors. Now patients will be able to see a doctor, without leaving the Tulsa CARES building.

"With HIV, it is not just taking a medication, writing a prescription, and saying, 'see you in three months.' There is more to that. It is wrap-around care that Tulsa CARES brings to the picture," said Dr. Lad.

Dr. Lad will be taking the lead as the non-profit's first physician- helping add another layer of care to Tulsa CARES mission.

"I have spent the last 8 years with Oklahoma State University Specialty Services. They have a Ryan White-funded clinic that services about 1300 patients," said Dr. Lad, "My certification is internal medicine, but I went on to get the certification for HIV treatment so I could focus on treating HIV as well as primary care for those patients."

Tulsa CARES is still in the early stages of its goal to build a separate medical clinic next to the main building, but it is progress--- to help people living with HIV or Hepatitis C, know they are supported and not alone in treatment.

"We know that Oklahoma is one of the top states with increased incidents of Hepatitis C," said Dr. Lad, "We know that there are a lot of patients living with HIV in the community...If we can also target these barriers to treatment- in addition to writing that prescription that is the wrap-around care, I feel Tulsa CARES brings."