My Community Health Center

ORGANIZATION MISSION STATEMENT: MY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER (MCHC) IS A GRASSROOTS, COMMUNITY-BASED 501(C)(3) OHIO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE COMPASSIONATE CARE TO ALL, HEALING AND LEARNING TOGETHER. MCHC'S GOAL IS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY'S IT SERVES, BUT WITH CONTINUED EMPHASIS ON THE UNDERSERVED AND THOSE WITHOUT ACCESS TO CARE, REGARDLESS OF RACE, ECONOMIC STATUS, AGE, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR DISABILITY. PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: MY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER (MCHC) IS A GRASSROOTS, COMMUNITY BASED 501(C)(3) OHIO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE COMPASSIONATE CARE TO ALL, HEALING AND LEARNING TOGETHER. MCHC'S GOAL IS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES, BUT WITH CONTINUED EMPHASIS ON THE UNDERSERVED AND THOSE WITHOUT ACCESS TO CARE, REGARDLESS OF RACE, ECONOMIC STATUS, AGE, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR DISABILITY. MCHC ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS A COMMUNITY CLINIC SITE IN AUGUST 2017 AND HAS BEEN ACTIVE AS A COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER SINCE THE ORGANIZATION BELIEVES IN TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. AS SUCH, MCHC HAS ESTABLISHED A RELATIONSHIP WITH THREE RESIDENCY PROGRAMS FOR THEIR RESIDENTS TO PROVIDE OUTPATIENT, CONTINUITY OF CARE AT MCHC: INTERNAL MEDICINE, FAMILY MEDICINE AND OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY. THE INTERNAL MEDICINE ALSO PROVIDES A RICH LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR PHARMACY RESIDENTS. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDERS, MCHC IS A CLINICAL SITE FOR NURSING AND MEDICAL ASSISTANT STUDENTS. IN SEPTEMBER 2019, MCHC RECEIVED FULL DESIGNATION FROM THE FEDERAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (HRSA) TO BE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER. MCHC EMPLOYS MORE THAN 75 EMPLOYEES, MANY FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. STAFF ARE FLUENT IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (CONTRACTED TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR OTHER LANGUAGES) AND EFFECTIVE AT WORKING WITH PEOPLE AT ALL LEVELS OF LITERACY. SERVICES PROVIDED BY MCHC INCLUDE FAMILY PRACTICE, INTERNAL MEDICINE, PRENATAL SERVICES, POSTPARTUM CARE, WELL CHILD AND PEDIATRIC CARE, SCREENINGS, CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT, DENTAL CARE (BY REFERRAL), LABORATORY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS/GROUPS), FAMILY PLANNING, OUTREACH, HEALTH EDUCATION (INCLUDING NUTRITION), ELIGIBILITY ASSISTANCE, AND CASE MANAGEMENT. THESE OUTPATIENT PRIMARY HEALTH SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO THE MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN STARK COUNTY, OHIO AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. OUR OBSTETRICAL PROGRAM IS UNIQUE IN THE FACT THAT WE ARE THE LARGEST OB PROVIDER FOR MEDICAID PATIENTS IN STARK COUNTY. THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVED APPROVAL TO OPEN A SECOND SITE IN MAGNOLIA, OHIO, A HRSA DESIGNATED UNDERSERVED AREA IN SEPTEMBER 2019. THIS FULLY FUNCTIONING SATELLITE OFFICE BEGAN OPERATIONS IN JANUARY 2020 AND PROVIDES MOST OF THE SAME HEALTH CENTER SERVICES AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. IN MARCH OF 2020 TO MEET THECHALLENGING ISSUES OF COVID-19 WITH OUR PATIENTS, MCHC ADDED TELEHEALTH SERVICES AND WE HAVE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE. IN 2024 WE PROVIDED OVER 36,600 MEDICAL VISITS, 1,840 MENTAL HEALTH VISITS AND OVER 2,100 TELEHEALTH VISITS TO MORE THAN 10,000 PATIENTS. COMMUNITY COLLABORATION IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO MCHC. BELOW ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR MANY COLLABORATIONS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS. * OUR OB-GYN DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO COLLABORATE WITH STARK COUNTY AND CANTON CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR THE THRIVE INITIATIVE TO REDUCE INFANT MORTALITY. * OUR INTERNAL MEDICINE DIVISION CONTINUES TO COLLABORATE WITH ACCESS HEALTH TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS FOR HIGH-RISK DIABETICS IN THE PRACTICE. THIS SAME DEPARTMENT STARTED COLLABORATING MORE WITH CANTON CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND EQUITAS HEALTH TO PROVIDE INFECTIOUS DISEASE MEDICAL CARE TO TREAT PATIENTS WITH HIV, HEPATITIS C AND ALSO PATIENTS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. IN 2024, OVER 5200 PATIENTS WERE TESTED WITH HIV AND A TOTAL OF 16 WERE DIAGNOSED. WE HAVE OVER 130 PATIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH HEP C AND MANY HAVE BEEN TREATED AT OUR FACILITY. LASTLY, WE HAVE OVER 320 PATIENTS WITH AN SUD DIAGNOSIS AND WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE PATIENTS TO BE TREATED. IN MARCH OF 2023, MCHC OPENED A 340B INHOUSE PHARMACY TO PROVIDE PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS TO MCHC PATIENTS. THIS WAS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN OUR CARE DELIVERY AND TRULY ADDRESSED ADHERENCE IN TREATMENT, ESPECIALLY WITH MAT AND SUD. IN 2024, MCHC FILLED OVER 12,200 PRESCRIPTIONS TO OUR PATIENTS, INCLUDING NEARLY 380 PRESRIPTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH HEPATITIS C OR HIV. TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND CONVENIENCE, WE ALSO PROVIDED APPROXIMATLEY 750 FREE HOME DELIVERY SERVICES, ENSURING PATIENTS RECEIVED THEIR MEDICATIONS WITHOUT BARRIERS. FINALLY IN 2024, WE IMPLEMENTED A TEMPORARY PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR OUR PATIENTS TO HELP THOSE IN NEED OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR PRESCRIPTION DRUG COST. ON FEBRUARY 4, 2024, MCHC PROUDLY OPENED THEIR THIRD SITE AT GONDER PLACE, A MILESTONE MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE COLLORATIVE EFFORT WITH THE CITY OF CANTON, CANTON FOR ALL PEOPLE AND SOMMERS MARKET. DESPITE FACING NUMEROUS DELAYS, OUR TEAM REMAINED STEADFAST IN ITS COMMITMENT TO LAUNCHING THE FIRST COMBINED HEALTH CENTER AND GROCERY STORE IN SOUTEAST CANTON, AND AREA HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED IN BOTH HEALTHCARE AND FOOD ACCESS. THIS NEW LOCATION PROVIDES PRIMARY CARE AS WELL AS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. IN ITS FIRST YEAR, THE GONDER PLACE SERVED 815 UNIQUE PATIENTS AND DELIVRED 1,550 MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH VISITS, MARKING A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN ADDRESSING HEALTH DISPARITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. MCHC CONTINUED TO PARTICIPATE IN MANY COMMUNITY EVENTS IN 2024. * IN JANUARY 2024, MCHC HOSTED A COMMUNITY BREAKFAST AT THE EDWARD PEEL COLEMAN COMMUNITY CENTER, LOCATED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF GONDER PLACE SITE. THE EVENT WELCOMED AND SERVIED 75 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FOSTERING CONNENCTION AND ENGAGEMENT WHILE RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT OUR NEW CLINIC AND AVAILABLE SERVICES. * IN APRIL, WE ATTENED THE STRONG FAMILY WELLNESS EVENT AT OUR LOCAL CIVIC CENTER AND DISTRIBUTED LITERATURE REGARDING APPROPRIATE AGE SCREENING AND VACCINATIONS. * IN AUGUST, MCHC ONCE AGAIN PARTICIPATED AT THE SANDY VALLEY AND CLARENDON ELEMENTARY BACK TO SCHOOL BASHES. WE GAVE AWAY STRING BAGS, WATER BOTTLES, SCREENING TOOL GUIDELINES AND EDUCATED MANY PARENTS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATIONS FOR CHILDREN. IN ADDITION, MCHC PARTICIPATED IN THE SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY CENTER BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT WHERE WE DONATED 10 BICYCLES AND PROVIDED BACK TO SCHOOL RAFFLE BASKETS FILLED WITH SCHOOL ITEMS DONATED BY OUR EMPLOYEES. WE ALSO DISTRIBUTED TWO RAFFLE BASKETS TO OUR PATIENTS THAT INCLUDED ALL SCHOOL SUPPLIES ON THE CANTON SUPPLY LIST AND A WALMART GIFT CARD. WE ALSO DISTRIBUTED SMALL BAGS OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO MORE THAN 30 PATIENTS. * IN SEPTEMER, MCHC JOINED THE MASSILLON HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR AT THE DUNCAN PLAZA TO PROMOTE WELLNESS AND IMPORTANCE OF SCREENINGS IN THE COMMUNITY. * IN NOVEMBER, MCHC HOSTED THEIR FIRST COMMUNITY BABY SHOWER AT OUR GONDER SITE LOCATON WITH CLOSE TO 90 PREGNANT MOTHERS ATTENDING. EACH MOTHER RECEIVED A SMALL CARE BAG FOR THE BABY. WE ALSO DISTRIBUTED MULTIPLE PRIZES OF BATHTUBS FILLED WITH BABY PRODUCTS, HIGHCHAIRS, A CHANGING TABLE AND A STROLLER. * IN DECEMBER MCHC PARTICIPATED AGAIN WITH COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS OF STARK COUNTY. WE ONCE AGAIN, WE, ADOPTED MULTIPLE FAMILIES. AND RAISED OVER $1,000 TO PROVIDE GIFTS AND MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT TO DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES IN OUR COUNTY. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR 2024 ARE DESCRIBED BELOW. * IN OCTOBER 2024 BOTH OUR CANTON AND MAGNOLIA LOCATION RECEIVED RECOGNITION AGAIN AS A PATIENT CENTERED MEDICAL HOME, AN ACCREDITATION FROM THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE (NCQA). THIS DESIGNATION CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE FOR OUR PATIENTS. * FINALLY IN 2024, MCHC STARTED THEIR OWN SMALL FOOD PANTRY. IT BEGAN BY ALLOWING STAFF TO DONATE CANNED GOODS ON FRIDAY'S IN EXCHANGE FOR WEARING JEANS. WE HAVE SINCE TRANSITIONED TO COLLECTING $2 TO MAINTAIN A STOCK OF CEREAL, CANNED TUNA, CANNED CHICKEN, FRUIT CUPS, VEGETABLES, MACARONI AND CHEESE, RICE, SPAGHETTI SAUCE, NOODLES, GRANOLA BARS, AND NUTS. WE TYPICALLY SERVE ANYWHERE FROM 2-7 PATIENTS PER WEEK. OUR GOAL IS TO REMOVE THE IMMEDIATE FOOD INSECURITY WHILE PROVIDING RESOURCE CONTAINING SITES AND TIMES OF LARGER FOOD GIVEAWAYS. MY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER CONTINUES TO THRIVE AND GROW IN 2024 MAKING IT EASIER TO ACCESS CRITICAL PREVENTATIVE CARE FOR ALL PATIENTS.