Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Awards Family Health Care’s Baldwin Family Health Care Health Center Monetary Grant for Expansion and Improvement of Services and Health Center Infrastructure Improvements

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Awards Family Health Care’s Baldwin Family Health Care Health Center Monetary Grant for Expansion and Improvement of Services and Health Center Infrastructure Improvements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2015

BALDWIN, Michigan – Family Health Care (FHC) was recently awarded federal funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HRSA’s goal is – like Family Health Care’s – to improve access to health care by strengthening the health care workforce, building health communities and achieving health equity. This award will help assist in the expansion and availability of primary care health services within the Baldwin and White Cloud communities along with much needed improvements to the Baldwin Family Health Care (BFHC) Health Center.

“I am very pleased and excited to accept these funds on behalf of Family Health Care. This grant will further integrate primary health care services and has the potential to make great improvements in the lives of those in our community,” said Kathy Sather, President and CEO of Family Health Care.

Family Health Care received two grant awards. An Expanded Services Grant was awarded to establish vision care services which will include comprehensive optometry care to be housed in Family Health Care’s state of the art location in White Cloud, Michigan. “The grant was competitive and our application was accepted as one of the best and funded.” The vision care program will also serve children in area schools. “The goal is to help students be better achievers; the services provided will identify students who may not be aware they have a vision problem.”

The second grant award was also based on a competitive process. The grant funds will provide upgrades and renovations needed in the Baldwin location. The renovations will provide 1900 additional square feet of space to better accommodate patient flow and expand its pharmacy area. Construction is planned to begin in late spring of 2016 and continue through early 2017. “These funds will provide significant improvements to our Baldwin location and will allow us to better serve with more exam rooms, as well as additional space for pharmacy. Once the improvements are made, we will be providing more access during Saturday hours; something we have been trying to accomplish for some time now. We are focused on serving all who visit the community in making sure their urgent needs are met – in addition to those who live here year round.

The organization also recently underwent a federal review by HRSA. HRSA conducts a review process every three years to verify and account for services, policy and adherence to grant funded requirements. “The review process is an important aspect to demonstrate best practices as well as compliance in handling of federal funding,” states Ms. Sather. “The result of the review confirms that Family Health Care is committed to providing quality, integrated and comprehensive health care services in the communities of Grant, White Cloud, Baldwin, Cadillac, McBain and surrounding communities.” There are 19 requirements overall that all 9000 federally qualified health centers nationwide, both urban and rural, are expected to achieve. Family Health Care received honorary “Best Practices” in many areas in addition to meeting all 19 of the 19 points of criteria. “This is a very high achievement and generally not every organization is able to meet all 19 requirements as the review is a rigorous process. I was very pleased to learn of the results, clearly a demonstration of the commitment and hard work that this organization has diligently set out to achieve.” FHC is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). The standards and achievement towards quality services is reviewed not only by this accrediting body but also other federal agencies to ensure compliance in the multiple programs and services that the organization offers. All of these reviews have met requirements with high marks.

Recently, the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative released data which reinforces the work of Family Health Care and other Health Centers nationwide who continue to make significant impacts in the communities they serve. The organization has played an active role in enrollment for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). FHC has taken this a step further by continuing to educate and train Outreach and Enrollment Specialists in not only the ACA but also implementation of other community services and gateways to improve the lives of individuals. Through these best practices and improvements, inroads are being made to move closer towards FHC’s and HRSA’s vision and mission of improved health and access for all. Family Health Care in West Michigan stood out as a significant leader providing highest status as a candidate for the awards granted by HRSA.

About Family Health Care:
Family Health Care (FHC), is non-profit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1967, as one of the first community health centers in the U.S. to develop a “one-stop multiple services” concept for health care services for all. FHC offers family medicine, pediatric and internal medicine, comprehensive dental service, full service Pharmacies, laboratory, x-ray, behavioral health care, therapy services, health education, and school-based programming. Centers are located in Baldwin, Cadillac, Grant, McBain and White Cloud. Our team is composed of diverse and passionate individuals who want to make a positive impact in the communities we serve. For more information, visit www.familyhealthcare.org.

 

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