Stories from the FQHC Front LinesFlorida's Community Health Centers operate on the healthcare frontline improving the health and wellbeing of Floridians every day, and even more so during this COVID-19 pandemic. Centers all across that State have been there for our patients, and for each other. Their compelling stories, in print, and in video, talk to the needs of local providers, how they manage the limited resources they have, and what they are doing to make sure they can provide the very best patient care in the communities they serve.See what our Centers are doing to care for vulnerable patients across the state as well as each other during these stressful and challenging times.SULZBACHER CENTER FOR THE HOMELESSCEO Cindy FunkhouserNo Positive COVID-19 Results Found During Widespread Testing Of Jacksonville’s HomelessAfter conducting 679 tests at all of Jacksonville’s homeless service providers, no one tested positive for COVID-19. Jacksonville was just one of two U.S. cities to receive widespread COVID-19 testing for its homeless population. Both Sulzbacher locations served as hubs for administering tests. Read the entire article here.
![]() GENESIS COMMUNITY HEALTHExecutive Director DeAnna WarrenCoronavirus Florida: East Boynton testing site opens for free drive-up appointments, walk-upsAn area that is one of Palm Beach County’s coronavirus hot spots opened a free testing site Monday and screened 43 people, five of whom were symptomatic, including the first two patients.
The free testing at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in east Boynton ran less than two hours Monday but will keep running for six weeks on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., said DeAnna Warren, CEO of nonprofit Genesis Community Health. Read the entire article here.
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![]() PREMIER COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE GROUPCEO Joseph ResnickPremier Community HealthCare recently learned it was awarded $1.4 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security -- or CARES -- Act funding.
Read the entire article here.
HEART OF FLORIDA HEALTH CENTERCEO Jamie UlmerHeart of Florida Health Center's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tabatha Downey, MD, discussed "Where Do We Go From Here?" with Hunter and Parker on 95.5 Wind-FM regarding the next phase as we navigate through the Coronavirus. “These last few weeks have been a true testament to the commitment and dedication that every one of our Heart of Florida Health Center employees have to this organization and community. We have provided necessary access to healthcare including dental, as well as screening and testing HFHC and non-HFHC patients for the coronavirus, ultimately ensuring our hospitals can stay focused on COVID-19 patients. We are proud to be a part of the incredible team of healthcare providers, organizations, and local officials caring for and keeping the residents of Marion County well and safe.” Jamie Ulmer, CEO of the Heart of Florida Health Center (HFHC).
C.L. BRUMBACK PRIMARY CARE CLINICS - HEALTH CARE DISTRICT PALM BEACH COUNTYChief Medical Officer, VP and Executive Director of Clinic ServicesBelma Andric, MD, MPH
Health Care District to Open Two Walk-up COVID-19 Test Sites in West Palm Beach and JupiterThe Health Care District’s C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics currently operate the county’s largest drive-thru testing site at the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach where medical staff has administered 11,581 tests since the site opened on March 31st, 2020. The Health Care District’s Brumback Clinics also operate a drive-thru test site in Belle Glade. Both test sites are supported by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the State Department of Emergency Management, the Florida Army National Guard, and Palm Beach County personnel. Read the entire press release here. HEALTHCARE HEROESHealth Care District of Palm Beach County Expands its Belle Glade COVID-19 Testing Site - Read the entire press release here. Lakeside Medical Center, the Health Care District’s acute-care, teaching hospital in Belle Glade Health Care District’s Clinics staff and Palm Beach County personnel plan Belle Glade test site logistics on Friday, April 17, 2020 Walk-up testing site at Belle Glade clinic
NEIGHBORHOOD MEDICAL CENTERCEO Jeanne' FreemanCOVID-19 concerns, cases rising in minority communities like Frenchtown"The virus knows no color, no race," said Jeanne' Freeman, the CEO of Neighborhood Medical Center. "But right now, it's a fact that minorities have high rates of chronic diseases. When that happens, patients have those underlying conditions and it exacerbates the virus." Read the entire article here. PANCARE OF FLORIDAPresident & CEO R. Michael HillPanCare Health is offering mobile COVID-19 rapid and antibody testing to large neighborhoods and businesses in Northwest Florida. PanCare holds first day of COVID-19 antibody testing clinicCars could be seen lining up at PanCare’s testing sites in Panama City, Marianna, Bristol, Eastpoint, and Port St. Joe on Monday. Pancare Health held its first day of administering rapid antibody tests for COVID-19. Read the entire article here. PanCare now testing high-risk persons for COVID-19 showing no symptoms Read the entire article here. PanCare Mobile providing COVID-19 testing.
FAMILY HEALTH SOURCECEO Laurie AsburyVolusia County to Begin COVID-19 Antibody Testing in MayFamily Health Source will pack up its COVID-19 testing locations in Deltona and Daytona Beach to open a new location at the Volusia County Fairground on May 4. Read the entire article here.
Family Health Source began offering drive-through and walk-up testing at three locations on April 13.
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COMMUNITY HEALTH NORTHWEST FLORIDACEO Chandra SmileyCommunity Health Northwest Florida to start mobile COVID-19 testing in vulnerable areasTesting efforts set model for the greater PanhandleCommunity Health Northwest Florida, a nonprofit dedicated to providing health care services to low income and homeless people, has tested hundreds of citizens in need. Because of these efforts, Escambia and Santa Rosa residents are empowered with more information and we will be able to see a faster and safer recovery from this unprecedented public health crisis. Read the entire article here. Photo Cred: Associated Press FOUNDCARECEO Yolette BonnetFoundCare in Palm Beach conducted the first drive-thru COVID-19 testing site in Florida and now, Florida's CHCs are prepared to test in over 30 drive-thru sites across the State. CEO Yolette Bonnet conducted a live interview on CNN with Brianna Keilar, and Dr. Oneka Marriott was interviewed and featured on ABC News: Pandemic- What You Need to Know. We hope this video will inspire even more healthcare organizations and government officials to step up and help those who need it most in our communities.
COVID-19 Testing in Underserved CommunitiesPop-Up Testing Site
CENTRAL FLORIDA HEALTH CARE, INC.CEO Ann ClaussenPlease take a moment to watch the wonderful video "Heroes Work Here" from Central Florida Health Care, Inc. which truly demonstrates "CFHC’s Health Care with A Heart.” "A heartfelt thank you to all of you for your dedication to patients during these challenging and uncertain times." CEO Ann Clausen During time of crisis, our Centers are doing great things!BOND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, INC.CEO Dr. Temple Robinson
Residents are relieved about free COVID-19 testing coming to Tallahassee's southside - Read the entire article here.
Dr.Robinson secured a partnership with Florida A&M and Leon County Health Department to conduct a walk-up COVID-19 testing location. Forty people tested within first hour of FAMU walk-up coronavirus testing site"On a foggy Saturday morning, a line began forming outside Florida A&M University's Bragg Memorial Stadium well over an hour before a new walk-up coronavirus testing site opened. The site will be open every day for two weeks with a limit of 200 tests per day. Testing is free and a doctor's referral is not necessary." Read the entire article here. Dr. Temple Robinson and Major General James O. Eifert at the FAMU & Bond Community Health Center COVID-19 test site. Communities of Color and COVID-19Dr. Temple Robinson participated in a virtual discussion regarding Communities of Color & COVID-19. This video discusses the social determinants of health and underlying historical systems that influence the disproportionate rate that minorities are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as strategies and solutions.
BOND HEALTHCARE HEROES
Dual Emergencies: Florida Community Health Centers Brace For COVID-19And Influx Of Newly Unemployed“I heard someone describe the community health centers as being the Tuskegee Airmen of the health care system,” said Dr. Temple Robinson, CEO of Bond Community Health Center in Tallahassee. “Providing cover, if you will, to the emergency rooms and the hospitals.” Read the entire article here. Community Health centers in Florida are preparing to test and care for coronavirus patients outside of overburdened hospitals. They also expect an increased need from the newly unemployed. Photo Cred: Associated Press TRUE HEALTHCEO Latrice StewartTrue Health partnered with Seminole County FL and the Florida Department of Health to provide drive-up or walk-up testing throughout the Seminole community!
CEO Latrice Stewart
@truehealth ✔️ Wash your hands
LANGLEY HEALTH SERVICESCEO Tom ChaseLangley Health Services offering curbside virus testing, but must follow criteria processLangley Health Services is offering curbside testing for the coronavirus at its Inverness facility for current and new patients, but only after a telehealth visit in which providers determine they meet criteria for testing for COVID-19. Photo Cred: Associated Press Langley - Inverness Medical OfficeAmazing frontline staff throughout Langley Health Services from Sumter, Citrus, and Marion counties. COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, INC.President & CEO Debra Andree, MDCommunity Health Centers, Inc. Receiving $100K from Siemens Foundation to support COVID-19 Response. Read the entire press release here.How to care for your mental health during COVID-19 pandemic“Anxiety comes from lack of control of a situation or fear of the unknown,” she said. “The world is full of this uncertainty right now. However, we can help keep our anxiety levels down by adopting some simple coping strategies.” Dr. Vintee Narang, a psychiatrist at Community Health Centers, Inc. Read the entire article here. COVID-19: Finding Calm Amongst the Chaos"...We’ve all been affected by this viral pandemic in some way and we are being asked to make sacrifices in our daily lives for the greater good of society. During these difficult and uncertain times, it is very important that we take good care of our mental health to ensure that we’ll be able to continue to give the best of ourselves to our patients and families." Dr. Vintee Narang, a psychiatrist at Community Health Centers, Inc. Read the entire article here. Photo Cred: Associated Press Discussing the Coronavirus with Your Child"COVID-19 has dramatically changed our daily lives for the time being and you are stressed, scared, or even annoyed. Now imagine how your young child is feeling. This can be overwhelming and lead to behaviors that can create a stressful home." Dr. Dr. Alicia Coonce, a pediatrician at Community Health Centers, Inc. Read the entire article here. Coronavirus Update: How to Stay Healthy and Engaged While at Home"...In efforts to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus, it is not advised to have playdates; however, here are a few things you can do to keep your kids healthy and entertained." Dr. Dr. Alicia Coonce, a pediatrician at Community Health Centers, Inc. Read the entire article here. Photo Cred: Associated Press Central Florida Providers React to Expansion of Telehealth Services Amid Coronavirus PandemicRead the entire article here. Photo Cred: Associated Press
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