How is this clinic different from other
clinics?
Community Healthcare Center is a 501(c)3 private, non-profit,
charitable organization providing affordable healthcare for the
uninsured, under-insured, and low-income. It is the only
Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in north central Texas.
The Center has the distinction of being a FQHC because, among
other reasons, it is located in a Medically Underserved Area
(i.e. an area with documented shortages of healthcare services)
as identified by the federal government. This health center is a
Health Center Program grantee under 42 U.S.C. 254b, and a deemed
Public Health Service employee under 42 U.S.C. 233(g)-(n).
Is Community Healthcare Center part
of the Family Health Center or Wichita Falls - Wichita County
Public Health District?
No. Community Healthcare Center
is an independent network of primary care clinics and is not
part of any city or county agency.
Are your services free?
No. Community Healthcare Center is not a “free clinic.” The
Center offers the uninsured and underinsured discounted fees
based on household income and family size. In-house eligibility
specialists work with patients to determine qualification for
services and ability to pay.
The Wichita County Indigent Health Care Program is designed to
care for county residents with no insurance, who are not
Medicaid eligible and meet resource and income requirements.
Where does the funding for Community Healthcare Center come from?
Community Healthcare Center receives payments for services from
Medicare, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP),
insurance companies, and individual patient cash
payments. Grants from federal and state agencies, foundations,
and corporations are also pursued. Individual donations are also
gratefully accepted.
Who is eligible for medical, dental
and counseling services?
Anyone can receive care at Community Healthcare Center. The
Center accepts all forms of insurance including Medicare,
Medicaid, CHIP, TRICARE and private health insurance. Patients
who are uninsured or underinsured can receive care by qualifying
for discounted fees.
Does Community HealthCare Center have
an emergency room?
No. The Center is an urgent, primary care clinic, not an
emergency care facility. Our focus is on preventive care.
Do you have bilingual providers?
Si (yes)! Many of our front office staff, nursing department and
even some providers speak Spanish. The Center uses a translation
service for patients requiring assistance in languages other
than English or Spanish.
What quality of services will a patient
receive?
Community Healthcare Center provides high quality medical and
dental care and other support services. From the front office
staff and clinicians, to referral specialists and corporate
officers, every member of the Center team is committed to
providing a safe and comfortable experience for patients.
In acknowledgement of the Center's effort to continually strive
for excellence in patient care, it is recognized by both private
and governmental agencies. The Center is accredited by the Joint
Commission (formerly known as Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations
or JCAHO)
and the Health Resources Services Administration-Bureau of
Primary Health Care. The Center is also a distinguished
recipient of the Torch Award for Marketplace Excellence from the
Better Business Bureau (BBB) of North Central Texas.
Can I fill a prescription at Community
Healthcare Center pharmacy if I saw a doctor at a different
clinic or hospital?
Only patients seen at Community Healthcare Center, or those
having prescriptions filled by a specialist after first seeing a
Center care provider, may have their prescriptions filled at the
facility. Prescription drug prices at the Center are discounted
consistent with the mission to serve the uninsured,
under-insured and low-income area populations. Lab work and
x-rays are also reserved for Center patients.
What if Community Healthcare Center
does not offer a medical or dental service, or prescription drug that I
need?
If a patient has seen a care provider at Community
Healthcare Center and requires a medical service (i.e. a medical
procedure, visit to a specialist, etc.) the clinic does not
provide, the Center's referral department will assist the
patient in scheduling an appointment with a specialist. If the
drug prescribed to a patient by a Center care provider is not
available at the clinic's pharmacy, the Center may attempt to
order it. If the Center does not procure the drug, or if a
patient prefers to get the prescription filled elsewhere, they
may do so for any reason.
What happens if I miss an appointment?
Center care providers, like most professionals, are busy people
with jam-packed schedules. Some providers are booked for months
out. Patients who skip appointments with Center care providers
or specialists referred by the facility, regardless of the reason
the appointment was missed, run the risk of not being seen again
for months and receiving a warning letter. Those who repeatedly
skip appointments may forfeit their right to future service at
the Center. Missed appointments represent one of the most
substantial drains on Center efforts to service the greatest
number of patients possible.
I am a supervisor at a Wichita County
business; many of my employees cannot afford health insurance
for themselves or their families. Can Community Healthcare
Center help?
Community Healthcare Center is more than a clinic - it's a
resource. As healthcare and prescription drug costs continue to
escalate, businesses are seeking high quality, affordable
alternatives. Community Healthcare Center can provide employees
and their families with quality medical and dental care and
inexpensive prescription medications at an affordable price.
Healthy employees with healthy families are more productive and
absent less. And for those with private insurance, Community
Healthcare Center offers a friendly, compassionate alternative
to monolithic health facilities. Over half of the Center's Board
of Directors are consumers of its first-rate services.
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