Community HealthCare Center, Inc.

Savannah, Ga.

Established in 2000, the Community HealthCare Center serves adult uninsured patients, 18-64 years of age who work or live in the Savannah area, and who do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid.  One hundred percent of their patients are under 200% the federal poverty level and 100% are uninsured.  All services are provided for free.

The clinic is currently staffed by 11 paid individuals, one non-paid retired physician who serves as Medical Director, one retired physician who serves as Chairman of their Medical Advisory Board, and 70 volunteers.  They have 6,993 uninsured patients registered in their system.  During 2006, Community HealthCare Center provided 9,311 free patient visits.

They were awarded a $25,000 grant for their “No body is left behind, Reaching across the Community” program.  This program is unique to Savannah because it will coordinate the activities of several organizations that are already providing services to the uninsured.  They will first identify adult uninsured patients who have undetected high blood pressure, diabetes, or cancer, and refer them for long-term treatment at one of the participating centers.  These patients will then be offered comprehensive primary health care services, and if appropriate, encouraged to participate in wellness programs such as smoking cessation counseling, self-management diabetes or a women’s health program.