Project Grant CE147329

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - I. PROJECT ABSTRACT PROJECT TITLE CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTED SPENDING (CDS): CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS INSTITUTION MERCY HEALTH-YOUNGSTOWN, LLC PROJECT DIRECTOR WAYNE TENNANT ADDRESS 2031 BELMONT AVENUE; YOUNGSTOWN, OH 44504 PHONE 330-398-5456 E-MAIL WAYNE_TENNANT@MERCY.COM WEBSITE WWW.MERCY.COM AMOUNT $1,000,000 BRIEF PROJECT DESCRIPTION FOR FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT. THIS PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH AN ADDICTION MEDICINE FELLOWSHIP AS WELL AS THE CO-LOCATING OF TREATMENT SERVICES FOR PREGNANT WOMEN WHO STRUGGLE WITH ADDICTIONS. CENTERING PREGNANCY IS A PRENATAL CARE PROGRAM WHERE EXPECTANT MOTHERS LEARN MORE ABOUT PREGNANCY AND HOW TO CARE FOR THE BABY AFTER BIRTH AND RECEIVE REGULAR HEALTHCARE CHECK-UPS FOR THEMSELVES AND THE BABY. EXPECTANT MOTHERS MEET WITH OTHER PREGNANT WOMEN WITH DUE DATES CLOSE TO THEIRS AND A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER BI-WEEKLY FOR 10 WEEKS, WHICH PROVIDES A NETWORK OF SOCIAL SUPPORT, EDUCATIONAL TOOLS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THIS CENTERING PREGNANCY SITE WOULD FOCUS ON MOTHERS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS, SUCH AS HYPERTENSION, DIABETES AND OPIOID USE DISORDER, TO HELP REDUCE INFANT MORTALITY AND ELIMINATE BIRTH OUTCOME INEQUITIES. THE CO-LOCATED FAMILY AND ADDICTION MEDICINE CLINICS WILL ALLOW THESE WOMEN TO RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE CARE AT THIS LOCATION. THE SPACE WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADDICTION MEDICINE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN YOUNGSTOWN, OH. THIS FELLOWSHIP IS PART OF A LARGER MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM INTENDED TO BRING HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO THE TRI-COUNTY AREA OF COLUMBIANA, MAHONING AND TRUMBULL COUNTIES, OF WHICH MHY IS THE LARGEST HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER. THIS FELLOWSHIP IS A GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION (GME) PROGRAM. GME PROGRAMS ARE CLINICAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR PHYSICIANS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR MEDICAL SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS AND WANT TO PURSUE MEDICAL EDUCATION IN A SPECIALIZED FIELD. MHY HAS A SUCCESSFUL HISTORY WITH GME PROGRAMS, CURRENTLY PROVIDING NINE UNIQUE RESIDENCY PROGRAMS. THIS FELLO WSHIP PROGRAM IS ONE YEAR IN LENGTH AND ACCEPTS TWO PHYSICIANS EACH YEAR FOR TRAINING. DURING THEIR FELLOWSHIP, THE PHYSICIANS WILL HELP TO OPERATE A NEW OUTPATIENT ADDICTION MEDICINE CLINIC TO EVALUATE AND TREAT PATIENTS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A FACULTY MEMBER WHO IS BOARD CERTIFIED IN ADDICTION MEDICINE. GRADUATES OF THIS PROGRAM WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS IN THIS COMMUNITY AND BEYOND. THE TRI-COUNTY AREA HAS SUFFERED DECADES OF JOB AND POPULATION LOSSES, WITH HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT RATES THEN OHIO AND MORE THAN A THIRD OF RESIDENTS LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE (COMPARED WITH 13% IN OHIO). THE LOCATION IDENTIFIED FOR THIS PROJECT IS A FORMER VETERAN'S AFFAIRS (VA) CLINIC IN YOUNGSTOWN, LEFT VACANT BY THEIR RELOCATION TO A LARGER FACILITY AT THE END OF 2020. A PORTION OF THE LARGER PROJECT, OF WHICH THE ADDICTION FELLOWSHIP IS A PART, IS TO RENOVATE THE VACANT BUILDING. THIS PROJECT SERVES TO ACHIEVE THE DUAL GOAL OF REPURPOSING THIS FACILITY AND BRINGING NEEDED HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO AN AT-RISK COMMUNITY.