Community Health-In-Partnership Services

 Dr. Donna Thackery

St. Louis, Mo.
Grant Amount: $24,641

Incorporated in 1991, the Community Health-In-Partnership Services (CHIPS) provides healthcare and social services to the underserved and uninsured people of St. Louis.  With approximately 290 volunteers and 12 physician volunteers, CHIPS had 2,821 patient visits last year.  Less than 1 percent of CHIPS patients are hospitalized or seek treatment at an Emergency Room each year, which saves the St. Louis community $6,000,000 per year in charity care.

Greater than 90 percent of CHIPS patients lack any form of health insurance, including Medicare or Medicaid.  According to the St. Louis Department of Health, residents of zip code 63106, where CHIPS is located, have the highest diabetes mortality rate in St. Louis, and the CHIPS service area also ranked number one for cerebrovascular disease and number two for overall mortality. 

CHIPS was awarded a $24,641 grant for their Living Lean Program that will target low-income, uninsured African American adults and teens living in zip codes 63106, 63107, 63113, 63115, the surrounding areas of North St. Louis City, and portions of North St. Louis County.  Using the American Board of Family Medicine’s recommended best practices in the treatment of obesity, the Living Lean Program will be a physician-directed program consisting of (1) a comprehensive medical assessment, (2) intensive dietary counseling by a registered dietician, (3) personalized exercise program led by an exercise/physical therapist, and (4) peer support group led by nursing and social work staff.  CHIPS expects to refer 600 patients to the program in year one.  Grant funds will be used to cover ten hours per week for the registered dietician, ten hours per week for the physical therapist, and program books and food diaries.