VIRGINIA GARCIA MEMORIAL HEALTH CENTER

FOUNDED IN 1975, VIRGINIA GARCIA MEMORIAL HEALTH CENTER (THE CENTER) IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY, COMPREHENSIVE, AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE TO THE OREGON COMMUNITIES OF WASHINGTON AND YAMHILL COUNTIES WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON MIGRANT AND SEASONAL FARMWORKERS AND OTHERS WITH BARRIERS TO RECEIVING HEALTHCARE.THE CENTER STARTED AS A SINGLE CLINIC IN CORNELIUS, OREGON. TODAY, IT IS A COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER WITH FIVE PRIMARY CARE CLINICS, A REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CLINIC, SIX DENTAL CLINICS, FIVE SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS, PATIENT REENGAGEMENT CLINIC, AND THREE MOBILE CLINICS, SERVING MORE THAN 52,000 PATIENTS WHO SPEAK MORE THAN 70 LANGUAGES. THE CENTER OFFERS MEDICAL, DENTAL, PHARMACY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND OUTREACH SERVICES. ABOUT 98 PERCENT OF ITS PATIENTS HAVE LOW-INCOMES, 25 PERCENT ARE UNINSURED, 38 PERCENT ARE CHILDREN, AND 54 PERCENT ARE LATINE.THE CENTER'S DENTAL PROVIDERS VISIT SCHOOLS TO SCREEN CHILDREN FOR DENTAL PROBLEMS AND APPLY SEALANTS TO KEEP CAVITIES AT BAY. COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND PROVIDERS VISIT MIGRANT CAMPS AND COMMERCIAL NURSERIES EACH SUMMER WITH THE MOBILE CLINIC TO OFFER MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICES AND TO DONATE SUPPLIES. THE CENTER ALSO OFFERS GROUP EDUCATION, SUCH AS HEALTHY COOKING CLASSES, DIABETES MANAGEMENT, AND FITNESS CLASSES TO HELP PATIENTS ACHIEVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS.THE CENTER CONSTANTLY LOOKS FOR NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO IMPROVE ITS SERVICES AND INCREASE ACCESS FOR PATIENTS. EXAMPLES OF THIS ARE THE RECENTLY COMPLETED EXPANSION OF THE NEWBERG WELLNESS CENTER AND THE OPENING OF A NEW PRIMARY CARE CLINIC IN RURAL SHERIDAN, OREGON, IN SEPTEMBER 2025. BOTH OF THESE SITES AIM TO EXPAND PATIENT ACCESS TO AN ARRAY OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES, INCLUDING MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND PHARMACY. ADDITIONALLY, THE CENTER IS EXPANDING ITS MOBILE HEALTH PROGRAM TO INCREASE ACCESS TO RURAL COMMUNITIES, SHELTERS, AND OTHER PRIORITY POPULATIONS IN WASHINGTON AND YAMHILL COUNTIES.WITH THE SHORTAGE OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS AFFECTING CLINICS ACROSS THE NATION, THE CENTER DEVELOPED ITS OWN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, COVERING TUITION FOR MEDICAL AND DENTAL ASSISTANT TRAINING AND HIRING THOSE WHO COMPLETE THEIR CERTIFICATIONS, MOST OF WHOM ARE BILINGUAL AND BICULTURAL. THE CENTER IS PARTNERING WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO CREATE PATHWAYS INTO HEALTHCARE CAREERS FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANTS, DENTAL ASSISTANTS, PHARMACY TECHNICIANS, AND REGISTERED NURSES. CENTER REVENUES ARE GENERATED THROUGH PATIENT CARE SERVICE FEES, GRANTS FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PRIVATE GRANTS, AND INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE DONATIONS. THE CENTER HAS THE STATUS OF A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER (FQHC). THIS DESIGNATION PROVIDES THE CENTER WITH ENHANCED MEDICARE AND MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENTS AND HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICE ADMINISTRATION (HRSA) SECTION 330 GRANTS THAT ENABLE THE CENTER TO BILL PATIENTS ON A SLIDING SCALE BASED ON THEIR INCOME.