Health Centers

U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln stated, “Community Health Centers are a critical component of what is right and good about health care reform,” during her address to CHCA Annual Conference attendees. Craig Kennedy, Associate VP of Federal and State Affairs for NACHC, expressed his feelings that Community Health Centers are not simply the best model of care for the poor and uninsured, but are the best model of care for all primary health care. These sentiments pervaded this year’s conference. The conference theme, “Inspiring a Culture of Excellence: Innovation, Leadership, Quality,” aimed to prepare the Arkansas CHC staff members, board members, and partners in attendance for the landscape change of health care reform implementation. Over 200 attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors participated in this year’s conference.

Family Medical Center in Corning, Community Healthcare Center in Walnut Ridge, and the Pocahontas Family Medical Center received Quality Achievement Awards during the recent Quality Conference hosted by the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care on May 20-21. All three were awarded for their use of the Patient Electronic Care System (PECS) which resulted in improved processes for clinic staff and providers and improved delivery of care for patients.

The Pocahontas Family Medical Center used PECS data to identify quality improvement needs. They used the information gained to raise awareness of clinic staff in the importance of timely and accurate completion of PECS data sheets, which resulted in improved delivery of care and patient outcomes.

White River Rural Health Center recently held an official groundbreaking ceremony at the construction site of the new Health Center in Jonesboro. The new center's staff will include two physicians, three registered nurse practitioners, and other staff. "This will be a full-service clinic that will see patients regardless of their ability to pay," Dr. Collier said. The new center will be the second in the city of Jonesboro.