Health Council Extends Group Purchasing

   

Esteemed local dentist and Community Health Centers, Inc. (CHC), Vice President/Chief Dental Officer, Gregg Stewart, DMD accepted his Fellowship to the American College of Dentists on October 18th at their annual Meeting & Convocation in San Francisco, California. This accomplishment is awarded to nominees that are truly outstanding and epitomize excellence. Only 3.5% of dentists in the United States are granted Fellowship into the College. Founded in 1920, the American College of Dentists is the oldest major honorary organization for dentists. Its members have exemplified excellence through outstanding leadership and exceptional contributions to dentistry and society.

 

Dr. Stewart joined CHC in 1991 and has been recognized on a state and local level for building a high quality dental practice that provides care for underserved children and adults, who previously had little to no access to dental care.  CHC employs 10 dentists under Dr. Stewart's leadership in seven Central Florida communities treating more than 10,000 patients annually. He is a graduate of the University of Florida - College of Dentistry and a member of the Dental Society of Greater Orlando, Central District Dental Association, Florida Dental Association, American Dental Association and American College of Dentists.  

On September 27th the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded Central Florida Family Health Center (CFFHC) $55,000 in supplemental funding to increase the percentage of women screened and followed for cervical cancer. This grant award will assist CFFHC as we make practice changes, such as improved care coordination and management of women's health, which will enhance our patient-centered medical home status.

 

The patient-centered medical home is a care delivery model designed to improve quality of care through better coordination, treating the many needs of the patient at once, increasing access, and empowering the patient to be a partner in their own care.

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 12,000 new cases of cervical cancer and more than 4,000 deaths will occur across the United States in 2012 as a result of this preventable disease. Patients who receive their health care in a patient-centered practice have been shown to receive a higher rate of preventive services, including cervical cancer screening.  As a patient-centered medical home, CFFHC is committed to providing high quality and affordable health care services, this award will help to continue these efforts.

by Steven Hale, MD, Orange County Health Dept.

  

As you may know, the Department of Health has staff in the Immunization program that monitors and assists Vaccine for pediatric providers. The staff performs an Immunization AFIX coverage level assessment of 2 year olds in the practices visited. The assessment includes a sample selection of 50 children's records out of the hundreds that they have as patients. The November 2012 activity report from the local region Immunization Field Staff Manager stated:

 

The Following Provider had outstanding AFIX Coverage Level Assessments;

 

Winter Garden Community Health Center Pin# 480083: 96%

 

Kudos to the Winter Garden Community Health Center for receiving a 96% coverage level for immunizing 2 year-olds in the 4-3-1-3-3-1 series of vaccines. The statewide goal is 90%.

 

The Orange County Health Department recognizes the efforts of the Winter Garden Family Health Center for its efforts in improving immunization rates in the community.

 

"I'm having a hard time looking for a job when I can't walk or stand for very long," Monica says, looking anxiously at her swollen ankle. On her way to church that weekend, she had felt a sharp stabbing pain in her chest, but she hadn't told anyone because she didn't want to worry them. Her husband died recently, and she is struggling to restart her life.

 

Monica begins to cry, saying she feels bad to need this care, and how much she appreciates being able to see a doctor. Monica is a new patient at the Community After Hours Clinic at Florida Hospital, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.

 

Founded in 2003, the After Hours Clinic has treated more than 25,000 patients in its ten years. Florida Hospital Family Medicine Resident physicians and faculty members, along with a staff team including nursing, social work, spiritual care, clinic administration, and security care for patients two evenings and Saturday mornings in the Florida Medical Plaza at Florida Hospital Orlando.

 

The AHC is not only meaningful for patients, but also for the staff members who work there. Says one, "I love working at the AHC because it helps me give back to the community, and I get to meet and assist many wonderful patients who would otherwise fall through the cracks." A receptionist at the clinic knows from experience how critical the AHC's mission is: "It saved my fiance's job when he had to get his blood pressure under control. He was able to see the doctor to get medications and monitor the progress." (Read more: Ten Years of Caring)

November 27th marked a very exciting day for Health Care Center for the Homeless (HCCH) when we officially launched our first ever satellite site. The site-- Community Food & Outreach Center's Clinic and Counseling Center -- is the product of a collaboration between HCCH, Harbor House, The Grove Counseling Center and Community Food & Outreach Center (CFOC). Already providing free or low-cost groceries, job training and clothing, the CFOC saw an opportunity to provide even more services to the 400 low-income families they see in a single day. Their CEO, Andrae Bailey, described the new center as "a holistic campus of services - that almost-mythical, one-stop location for families that are hungry and homeless or living in poverty." Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer took on the important task of cutting the ribbon at the event, standing alongside HCCH's CEO Bakari Burns and representatives from the other organizations involved. Burns explains that "what happens too often is that [agencies] become focused on who gets the credit. In this case, it's not about who gets the credit. It's about who gets the service." HCCH is hoping to have the new site staffed and serving patients no later than mid-February.