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Clarke health center hopes to inform with open house

Officials at the Midtown facility want potential clients to know about its various services and free programs.

By JON WILSON
Published August 31, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - Open for 18 months, the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center is drawing clients to its Midtown location to see doctors and dentists, get prescriptions filled and receive mental health counseling.

But care providers still want to get out the word about health care programs that target specific problems, and that the programs are free. One such program is a weight management class to be held 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays starting Sept. 13.

The Bayfront Medical Center staff is conducting an open house today from 5 to 7 p.m. at the health center, 1344 22nd St. S.

"This is basically to let the community know, yes, we're here, and what all do we provide," said Sandra Grosvenor, a registered nurse who works at the Mercy Community Resource Center, which is part of the Johnnie Ruth Clarke complex.

Bayfront Medical Center is one of several community partners that help provide services at Johnnie Ruth Clarke.

Uninsured clients can be referred to doctors just as insured patients can. Fees often are based on a sliding scale dependent upon a person's ability to pay.

But several programs cost nothing. Among them:

A medical counseling service in which Grosvenor talks to clients about their health concerns and directs them to the right resource.

Nutritionist Jessica Bruzzichesi is available Tuesdays and Wednesdays to discuss nutrition problems. She also teaches a weight management class on Monday evenings. The next available classes start in November.

A stop-smoking clinic.

Prenatal classes.

A monthly class about high blood pressure.

"This is one of the areas most of the participants at Johnnie Ruth Clarke are in need of. What is it, how do we get it, what can I do to bring it down," Grosvenor said.

The weight management program began last year, said Bruzzichesi, who is a registered dietitian at Bayfront. Fifteen slots will be available in the next night class, 10 in the day class.

It includes a grocery store tour, instruction about reading nutrition facts labels, a healthy cooking demonstration, information about modifying recipes to make them healthier and tips about dining out.

For information about Bayfront's health programs at the center, call Grosvenor at 824-8121.

[Last modified August 31, 2005, 01:22:13]