There’s now a second location for a clinic designed to assist Northeast Florida residents ages 16 to 26 with chronic medical or developmental problems transition from pediatric to adult care.

As documented by a number of studies and what local doctors have seen at the clinic, youth and young adults with chronic health problems often struggle when they leave the pediatric system of care. University of Florida Jacksonville Health and Transitional Services (JaxHATS) is a program that provides support during that transition.

JaxHATS now sees patients on Friday mornings in the Aetna building on the Southbank, 841 Prudential Drive. The JaxHATS clinics serve as a medical home for people with chronic medical and developmental issues that are leaving the pediatric system and moving into the adult system of care.

The team of providers includes a pediatrician, an internal medicine specialist, nurse care coordinator, patient advocate, physician's assistant and a transition specialist. The staff treats the patients’ immediate medical needs, helps arrange specialty adult care, and provides guidance on insurance, guardianship and other issues.

Physicians and staff work actively with youth and young adults to help them assume as much independent responsibility for their health and health care as they are capable of. The ultimate goal of the clinical program is to help youth with chronic health and development problems achieve their long-term goals vocational and living goals.

JaxHATS sees patients from Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties. Having a second location on the south side of the St. Johns River offers some patients more convenient access to services, said David L. Wood, M.D., M.P.H., medical director of JaxHATS.

The new clinic is in addition to the JaxHATS clinic on the Shands Jacksonville Medical Center campus, said Wood, a pediatrics professor at the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville.

For an appointment, please see the JaxHATS website or call (904) 244-9233.