Partnering with Community Behavioral Health Centers

In 2007, The HealthCare Connection, Inc. (THCC), at the request of the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, assumed the role of providing primary health care services in four community behavioral health center sites: Centerpoint Health, Central Community Mental Health Board (CCHB), and Greater CincinnatiBehavioral Health Services (GCB).  THCC and its partners are committed to the integration of behavioral health and primary health services specifically designed to serve severely mentally ill adults.  THCC provides a medical home for this very challenging population as based on numerous research studies identifying this population being at significantly greater risk of mortality by 25 years in comparison to the general population.  The standard scope of practice at community behavioral health center sites can now include preventive medicine, acute and urgent care, chronic disease management and limited diagnostic testing, e.g. blood glucose, urinalysis, hemoglobin, electrocardiograms, vision and hearing screening with the onsite Wellness Clinics operated by THCC.  We are grateful to our partners for their vision, commitment, and passion in the services we provide and the population served.  By having aligned missions with each partner, we are able to effectively support one another in our services provided giving patients a whole health experience of mind and body.

The Wellness Site locations are:

Renovations Complete at Forest Park Health Center

State Representative Connie Pillich, Former HCESC Executive Director Jack Collopy, Forest Park Health Center patient Emily Espinoza, and HCC Board Chair Nina Lewis cut the ribbon to newly-renovated facility.

The HealthCare Connection celebrated National Health Center Week 2010: Turning the Vision into Reality on Friday, August 13 with an Open House and Ribbon Cutting at the newly-renovated Forest Park Health Center.  Thanks to the generous support of The Spaulding Foundation, The Dr. Stanley and Mickey Kaplan Foundation, and Ohio State Capital Funding, this pediatric facility will be able to serve more patients than ever before.   The square footage has been doubled, adding two new exam rooms, a waiting room, and a restroom to the facility.  Forest Park Health Center is the only pediatric healthcare safety net in Hamilton County located outside the City of Cincinnati.   Thanks to all our supporters who helped turn our vision into a reality!

GE Partners with The HealthCare Connection to Expand Access to the Underserved

CEO Dolores J. Lindsay speaking at the Developing Health launch event at Lincoln Heights Health Center on June 2, 2010. Photo provided courtesy of General Electric.

This June, GE announced that it has selected The HealthCare Connection to be part of its "Developing Health" initiative, awarding The HCC  two $250,000 grants: one for Lincoln Heights Health Center and another for Mt. Healthy Family Practice.  These  funds will be directed towards increasing access to primary care and dental services.  In addition to this generous contribution, GE will continue to partner with The HCC to provide volunteer support to the organization. 

The HCC is thrilled to be part of this global initiative as it continues to provide high quality primary health and dental care to the underserved in northern Hamilton County.

Community Health Centers Front and Center

The HealthCare Connection (THCC) was just awarded $310,315 in grant funds from The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA ), signed into law February 17, 2009. This federal legislation provides $500 million in grants to support new service sites and areas, increase services at existing sites, and provide supplemental payments for spikes in uninsured populations to community health centers that receive operating grants under section 330 of the Public Health Services (PHS) Act.

Funds made available by the Recovery Act will support our nation’s health centers like THCC, in efforts to address the Increased Demand for Services (IDS) and to create or retain jobs in underserved communities over the next two years. This $310,315 in IDS funding awarded to THCC, the only safety net provider in Hamilton County outside Cincinnati city limits, will be used to expand medical and dental services and service capacity and reduce waiting times for appointments in all of our seven service sites. That expansion will include increased hours of operation: evenings, early mornings, and Saturdays. It will also provide for hiring providers (physicians and nurse practitioners) and other support staff such as nurses and medical assistants.

“We are extremely excited about the opportunity to couple the IDS funds with local funds to create greater access and better services for our patients,” commented CEO Dolores J. Lindsay. “There are many challenges before us, especially now, during these difficult economic times, as there are simply more needs than resources.” Mrs. Lindsay continued, “We are poised and eager to meet these challenges head on. THHC wants to extend our gratitude to both state and federal legislators who recognize the value of community health centers, described by some as a major part of the solution to health care reform. On behalf of the patients, board and staff of The HealthCare Connection, we applaud their efforts in enacting legislation that helps us help the community. We are determined to persevere, strengthen and expand.”