LYNWOOD, IL | September 25, 2017 | By Francine Knowles
Original article can be found at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/
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Family Christian Health Center is a federally qualified health center. That means it is a community-based health care provider and receives federal funds to provide primary care services in underserved areas. Family Christian Health Center, which employs roughly 100 people, offers its health care services on a sliding fee scale based on ability to pay and accepts Medicaid patients. Its patient population is diverse — it also serves patients enrolled in PPOs and Medicare, but roughly 70 percent of its patients are low-income, Green said. Family Christian Health Center receives $2.2 million in federal funds annually, said Mia Cross, director of clinical operations. It also received a one time federal grant to expand to Lynwood, officials said.
The community health provider had operated out of a small trailer at Lynwood Plaza since September of last year. It moved into 3,400 square feet of space in the plaza a few weeks ago.
“We looked in areas where we felt we could have a great impact,” said Green, 54.
Access was key, which Family Christian Health Center noted in its proposal that gained federal grant funding to open the site. The location was strategically chosen to serve the entire 60411 zip code area. The area like many communities has people who are working, but still can’t afford health insurance, Green noted.
The proposal cited 2000 Census data that showed 42 percent of residents in Chicago Heights were living at or below 200 percent of the poverty level. In Ford Heights, the figure was 77 and 24 percent in Lynwood.
The population-to-physician ratio for the target area is 6819 to 1, the proposal noted. It also cited significant disparities in Cook County between African Americans and non-Hispanic whites in having health insurance coverage. The Census Bureau Small Area Health Insurance Estimates revealed the percent of individuals among its target population who were uninsured grew to 19 percent in 2012, up from 17.4 percent in 2008, the proposal noted.
The new Lynwood site at 19767 Torrence Ave. is accessible, particularly for those who are low-income and rely on public transportation. It is along the Torrence Avenue bus route that runs Monday through Saturday making stops in Burnham, Calumet City, Lansing, Lynwood, Sauk Village, South Chicago Heights and Steger. The route also connects to Metra Hegewisch and Metra South Shore Commuter train lines, the proposal stated.
“You have an entire market here of people that work but don’t necessarily have health insurance” because they can’t afford it, Green said. She shared the story of the Lynwood site being able to help a truck driver, who had three children but couldn’t afford health insurance. He needed to get shots for his children before school started, but places that he checked were charging $200 to $300 per kid for the patient visit and shots. The center was able to provide the physicals and shots for $25 per child, she said.
Services offered among Family Christian Health Center’s various locations include family practice, ob/gyn pediatric care, family dental care, behavioral and mental health care, health management and patient support services. It offers patient education programs on fitness and nutrition, newborns, parenting and diabetes.
It also offers Today Care, which is designed for patients who can’t get an appointment with their regular provider. Today Care is meant for illnesses that are urgent but not life-threating, like allergies, asthma, the common cold or flu, pregnancy testing, and testing for sexually transmitted diseases.
Family Christian Health Center operates an on-site pharmacy at its Harvey location.
The Dolton site opened about five years ago and doesn’t receive federal funding. It provides pediatric services only.
Green, who is a doctor of osteopathic medicine, said Family Christian Health Center’s approach to health care is holistic. That is made clear on its website, which states, “We understand that a typical doctor’s visit extends far beyond the exam room. That’s why our approach is to address the whole person. Our care team includes assessing our patients physical, spiritual, emotional, psychological and financial needs. We believe that by focusing on these causes we can greatly improve overall health and wellness.”
Partnering with patients is key, said Green, adding “People know their bodies better than we know.” It’s important “to connect with them to allow them to be able to optimize the best health care possible for them.”
Family Christian Health Center has a strong track record. Ninety-three percent of its asthma patients have asthma under control, said Cross adding, just over 80 percent of its pregnant patients get prenatal care in their first trimester, exceeding the federal government’s Healthy People 2020 goal of 78 percent. The 2020 goal for hypertension is for 61.2 percent of patients to have it under control, she said, noting, “We’re at 66.5 percent.”
Green credits Family Christian Center’s holistic approach and focus on educating patients on how to stay healthy for the results. She notes many people with high blood pressure “have been on medicine forever. They don’t even know what pills they are taking or why they’re taking them.” So, they talk “about let’s stop using the ham hocks, and let’s put some smoked turkey in there. You have to meet people where they are to help them get to where they need to be.”
She stresses they are a faith-based health care provider, and when needed and desired they pray with patients about health issues and other challenges they are facing in their lives.
“We’re not a church. We’re not trying to pull people to one church. We’re not affiliated with any church,” she said. “What we try to do is give (patients) some hope to be able to face whatever they’re facing, and I think that’s what makes us different.”
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