Location: 345 24th Avenue North, Suite 103, Nashville, TN 37221

Telephone Number: 615/321-9556

Year Program Started: February 1994

Principal RD: Cynthia C. Theissen, RD, LDN, CDE

E-mail Address:  CTheissen@comp.clinic.org 

Service Provisions: Ms. Theissen is on site Monday through Friday from 8 am –5 pm.

Number of Other Program Nutritionists: A grant funded RD for  the Obstetrics (OB) Clinic 4-6 hours - once a week.

Patient Referral Source: Referral sources for the Comprehensive Care Center include Lentz Public Health Clinic, hospitals, private clinics and physicians.

Number of Clients and Population Served: In total, the Comprehensive Care Center has 1,800 active clients. Currently, 79% of the clients are males. Of the males, 64% are Caucasian, 30% Black, 2% Hispanic, 1.6% other (Asian, mixed race, Native American), and 2% unknown. Twenty-one percent of the total clients are female with 38% being Caucasian, 55% Black, and 7% Hispanic, Asian, other, and unknown. Also, 1.7% are OB patients.

Funding Source: The Comprehensive Care Center is grant funded.
 

How often do you provide nutritional assessments and follow-ups? “Nutritional assessments are recommended once a year although follow-ups are set up on an individual basis with the average being every three months. Clients on supplements through Ryan White are assessed at least once every six months. Monthly assessments are for more critical/high risk clients.”

Other Provided Nutritional Services: According to Ms. Theissen, all clients have a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) done at each visit unless physically unable or the client refuses.  All BIA's are done on site. Nashville Cares is a social support organization that provides support for individuals with HIV/AIDS. It offers crisis services, counseling, addiction and detoxification counseling, day treatment, case management for housing, health insurance social security/disability, food stamps, WIC, Wills, Living Wills and Durable Power of Attorney as well as help with connections to other social services.  Other services include food bags, meals, bus passes, phone pals and emergency financial assistance.

Are there any differences in clinical care within your population group? “The only difference in clinical care of our clients is with the OB case load, which has a more intense case management.”