| History of Community Health Center of Central Wyoming, Inc.
The nonprofit CHCCW was founded in March 1999 to meet the increasing
need for comprehensive health care for the medically underserved
in central Wyoming. The medically underserved include the uninsured,
underinsured, and low-income residents of Central Wyoming. In
the
fall of 2000, the CHCCW assumed the clinical operations of the
University of Wyoming Family MedicineResidency Program with
which it has continued
to be affiliated. Since that time, more medical providers have
been added, as well as a behavioral health department and dental
clinic.
Today, CHCCW is the largest primary care provider in the
state. CHCCW physicians are board certified and have hospital
privileges
at Wyoming Medical Center. Through contractual arrangements, CHCCW
provides care to approximately half the nursing home patients
in
Casper.
CHCCW Dental Clinic
The Dental Clinic was opened on September 1, 2003, and has served
thousands of patients since then. Primary services offered include
routine screening,
evaluation and prevention, application of sealants and fluoride
treatments. Urgent care is also available for established dental
clinic patients.
The Dental staff participates in community outreach actvities such
as:
- Collaborating programs with Natrona County Public Health for
pregnant moms;
- Meeting with the Parents Group at Head Start: providing screenings
and education for parents and children on site;
- Visiting all Title I schools to conduct screenings, educational
programs, and supply children with oral health care products such
as a toothbrush and toothpaste;
- Visiting other child-centered community groups like the Boys
and Girls Club;
- Provides guest speakers such as Cowboy Ted to local organizations;
and
- Tobacco cessation groups and organizations.
Health Disparities Collaboratives
As a participant in The National Health Disparities Collaboratives
(HDC's), CHCCW is provided with essential training for its health
care professionals in the management of chronic conditions such
as diabetes, depression, cardiovascualr disease, asthma, cancer,
and HIV/AIDS.
CHCCW has been participating in the HDC since 2003, beginning
with the Diabetes Collaborative and spreading to the Depression
Collaborative.
CHCCW is now entering the implementation phase of the Cardiovascular
Disease Collaborative. Since 2003, the CHCCW Diabetes and Depression
Collaboratives have improved outcomes significantly for its patients
struggling with these chronic conditions.
CHCCW Nationally Recognized
March 2006 - CHCCW received "Outstanding Improvement
in Healthcare Outcomes" and "Demonstrating Exceptional
Commitment to Quality Healthcare Delivery" awards from the
HDC.
Participation in the Collaboratives is rewarding because patients
experience significant improvement in their quality of life.
Community Needs Assessment
Wyoming Medical Center, the Community Health Center of Central
Wyoming and Casper-Natrona County Health Department participated
in a community engagement grant through the Wyoming Office of
Rural Health. This project includes a community needs assessment
and focus groups administered by the Rural Health Resource Center
of Duluth, Minnesota.
In the fall of 2008, Natrona County residents were surveyed on
the likelihood of utilization of a variety of local healthcare
services. This report shows the results of the survey in both narrative
and chart formats.
Download this as a PDF document.
What is a Community Health Center?
CHCs were created in the mid-60's by Congress when it passed the
Public Health Service Act. There are nearly 1,000 CHCs across the
nation, and until September of 2004, CHCCW was the only CHC in Wyoming.
Cheyenne will host the second CHC. To form a Community Health Center,
a community has to meet numerous criteria related to shortage of
health professionals, poverty level, number of uninsured, and presence
of special populations such as a large percentage of elderly. There
has to be a large percentage of people who are unable to access
medical care because of cost, location, language barriers, or lack
of physicians. The CHC grant from the U. S. Department of Health
and Human Services provides for indigent care and administrative
costs not reimbursed by public and private insurance. CHC's are
not government institutions, but are community-owned health care
centers that are eligible to receive federal funding.
Patient Demographics
In 2007 CHCCW provided medical, dental, and behavioral health care
to 13,959 patients who are primarily children, the working poor,
the disabled, and the elderly. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of our
patients live in households with incomes below $36,619, the
median
income for Natrona County, according to the 2000 Census. Thirty-seven
percent (37%) of our patients have incomes below the Federal
Poverty
Level of $9,800 for one person and $20,000 for a family of four.
Patients are charged on a sliding fee schedule according to
their
ability to pay. Almost 30% of all CHCCW patients are uninsured.
Funding of CHCCW
Approximately 22% of CHCCW funding is provided by federal grants,
16% by the State of Wyoming*, 3% by
foundations for specific projects, and the balance by contracts
and public and private insurance reimbursements. Since opening in
the Fall of 2000, CHCCW has provided more than $6 million in uncompensated
medical care. Since the dental clinic opened in September 2003,
67% of all dental treatment has been written off. As one of nearly
1,000 Community Health Centers across the nation, CHCCW must provide
primary health care to all, regardless of ability to pay.
Governance
A CHC must be directed by a community-based board of directors
that is representative of the community and of the patients
it serves.
More than 50% of the CHCCW Board of Directors are patients of CHCCW.
Current CHCCW Board of Directors are Doug Follick - President,
Rosemary Lantta - Vice President, Sean Ellis - Secretary
Treasurer, Richard Hodge, Debby Johnson, Susan Karavitis,
Randy
Stutheit, Rory Franklin, Marty Thone, Leslie Wright and Melissa
Connely.
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