Largest HIV Clinic in NYC Opens Doors

Showcasing an innovative new healthcare model, the West 17th Street Clinic opened in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood on Thursday, World AIDS Day.

The clinic is run by St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals' Center for Comprehensive Care. The new facility will be one of the largest HIV centers in the Empire State, with dermatology, cardiology, ob-gyn, and pharmacy services available. The 17th Street Clinic "operates on a 'medical home' model where patients stay in one room while doctors, nurses, and other caregivers come to their room in turn, tipped off by a multi-colored flag system above each door and overseen by a Flow Coordinator who ensures each patient's visit is smooth and efficient with minimal waiting time," according to a release.

The opening of the clinic couldn't come at a better time -- New York City's St. Vincent's hospital, which had been serving HIV patients since the beginning of the epidemic, shut down last year.