PARTNERSHIP COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER INC

PARTNERSHIP COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER (PCHC) IS A COMMUNITY-INITIATED, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FORMED IN 1997 AS A "FREE CLINIC" TO PROVIDE NO COST MEDICAL CARE TO UNINSURED PATIENTS. IN 2004, PCHC WAS FUNDED AS A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER AND HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS PROGRAM UNDER HRSA SECTION 330 FUNDING. NOW HEALTH CENTER JOINS NINETEEN OTHER COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND ALMOST 2,000 CENTERS NATIONWIDE.WE OFFER PRIMARY CARE, DENTAL CARE, AND INTEGRATED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES ONSITE AT OUR FACILITIES IN GRAND CHUTE, WI, PRIMARY DENTAL SERVICES IN OSHKOSH AND WAUPACA WI, PCHC'S SERVICE AREA IS THE TRI-COUNTY AREA OF CALUMET, OUTAGAMIE AND WINNEBAGO COUNTIES AND ARE A FEDERALLY DESIGNATED MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREA. THE MIX BETWEEN URBAN, SUBURBAN, AND RURAL AREAS CREATES MANY UNIQUE BARRIERS TO CARE AND DISTINCT CHALLENGES TO OUR PATIENT POPULATIONS. THIS PAST YEAR 16,523 LOW-INCOME, HIGH RISK PATIENTS RECEIVED CARE AT PCHC. WE CONTINUE TO GROW TO MEET THE HEALTH NEEDS OF THE AREA'S UNDERSERVED AND IMPOVERISHED. OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS' PRIORITY IS IMPROVING HEALTH ACCESS TO CARE FOR OUR PATIENTS AND STRATEGICALLY ENROLLING ALL ELIGIBLE PATIENTS IN MEDICAID AND NEW MARKETPLACE INSURANCE PRODUCTS.IN OUR SERVICE AREA THERE ARE IN EXCESS OF 100,000 PEOPLE LIVING AT OR BELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL (FPL). CENSUS DATA INDICATES THAT POVERTY RATES CONTINUE TO RISE IN SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS, WITH INCREASES IN RENTAL PROPERTIES AND SUBSIDED HOUSING. LOW INCOME FAMILIES ON FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH IN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE AT RECORD LEVELS AND NEW MINORITIES AND REFUGEES CONTINUE TO SETTLE IN THE AREA. THE DEMOGRAPHICS HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY SINCE WE OPENED AS A SMALL HEALTH CENTER WITH A FOCUS ON HOMELESS, DISENFRANCHISED, AND MOSTLY UNINSURED ADULTS. WE HAVE NOW GROWN TO PROVIDE CARE TO A LARGE POPULATION CONSISTING OF MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED MULTICULTURAL FAMILIES, CHILDREN, ADULTS, ELDERLY, AND THE NEWLY INSURED. MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS SUFFER FROM CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS SUCH AS DIABETES, OBESITY, HYPERTENSION, AND OTHER CO-MORBID CONDITIONS DUE TO THEIR HISTORICAL LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AS AN EXTENSION OF POVERTY, NO INSURANCE OR HIGH DEDUCTIBLE INSURANCE, AND NO INCOME AVAILABLE TO COVER THE COSTS.DATA SHOWS THAT OUR PRACTICE CONTINUES TO RESPOND TO COMMUNITY NEED.. NEW DENTAL STAFF HAVE BEEN HIRED, AND NEW LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN OPENED, TO RESPOND TO THE AREA'S NEED. 93.3% OF PCHC PATIENTS HAVE INCOMES 200% OR BELOW POVERTY AND 71% LIVES AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. PCHC PROVIDES THE NECESSARY PRIMARY CARE AND PREVENTIVE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO CARE. WE HAVE SEEN A RAPID GROWTH IN NEW IMMIGRANTS FROM MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA AND ASIA, RECENTLY RESETTLED REFUGEES FROM THE CONGO, IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, MIRAMAR, CUBA, AS WELL AS MANY NEW PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT REQUIRE CARE MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SUPPORT. PCHC IS THE ONLY FQHC IN THE AREA AND WE PARTNER WITH OUR LOCAL HEALTH SYSTEMS AND COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS FOR MANY SERVICES AND ARE THE PRIMARY SAFETY NET PROVIDER THAT OFFERS A SLIDING FEE AND CARE FOR THE UNINSURED WITHIN OUR TRI-COUNTY SERVICE DELIVERY AREA.