The UPMC Matilda H. Theiss Health Center will begin seeing patients in Pittsburgh’s Hill District again on Friday.
The clinic moved out of the Hill District last August because of structural problems at its prior facility, and it operated temporarily in the South Side, according to Dr. Jonathan Yadlosky, the center’s medical director. The goal was always to bring the center back to the Hill.
“The spirit of Matilda Theiss has always been the Hill District,” said Michelle Hardeman, the lead nurse at the site. A Hill District resident, she’s also a patient at the health center.
The health center is “one-stop shopping” for basic medical needs, Yadlosky said. It offers primary, pediatric and OB-GYN care, as well as a pharmacy, a nutritionist and other services, he said.
There’s a social worker on site, who can offer counseling and help connect patients with additional resources. A case manager from UPMC Health Plan is on site to assist patients with care coordination, transportation assistance and scheduling. Doctors can even perform some basic procedures at the health center, Yadlosky said.
Part of the appeal of the new Centre Avenue location is that it’s centrally located in the Hill District, near a bus stop and with free parking available, said Dr. Tracey Conti, chair of family medicine for UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh.
Leslie Davis, president and CEO of UPMC, spoke during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Matilda H. Theiss Health Center in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. pic.twitter.com/UWTSsvK5DA
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“It’s so important for patients to have access to holistic care,” Conti said. “We know that health disparities are an issue for this community. This is a way we can really combat health disparities.”
She said having health services nearby, accessible and housed under one roof makes it easier for residents to get the care they need. That need, Conte said, became even more evident during the covid-19 pandemic.
“Health care is critical to each of our communities, and we need to ensure that no matter where our patients live, they have access to high-quality care close to home,” UPMC President and CEO Leslie Davis said.
The Matilda H. Theiss Health Center has a history stretching more than 100 years. When it first launched, it focused on behavioral health for children, Conti said. It has since expanded to include a full range of medical services.
Hardeman, who has been a patient and nurse at the health center for over a decade, said it’s rare to find a doctor’s office that can offer so many services under one roof. She pointed to the attached pharmacy as a benefit for patients who would otherwise need to make an extra trip to pick up medications elsewhere after a doctor’s appointment.
The health center is adorned with archival photos of the Hill District, as well as a colorful mural painted by local nonprofit ACH Clear Pathways, which connects local youth with art.
“It creates an environment that people can heal in,” Yadlosky said.
The health center has seven patient rooms, outfitted with new equipment, Yadlosky said. A covid-19 vaccination clinic located within the same plaza will be integrated into the Matilda H. Theiss Health Center, Conti said.
“We worked really hard to build a beautiful new health center, a health center that’s easy to get to, a health center that has a full complement of primary care services,” Yadlosky said.
