(WEST PALM BEACH, FL)
-- As the number of uninsured residents in Palm
Beach County continues to increase, FoundCare
Health Center celebrated its first anniversary
last week having provided healthcare services to
more than 1,200 new patients at a value of
nearly $700,000 in treatment during its first
year of operation. The nonprofit health center
marked its one-year milestone with a community
open house and free health fair at its 2330
South Congress Avenue location in West Palm
Beach to introduce even more patients to its
comprehensive healthcare services.
Activities at Thursday’s open house and health
fair included free seasonal and H1N1 flu shots
for adults and children; free blood pressure
screenings; free vaccine checks; free
eligibility screening for Florida KidCare,
Medicaid and Health Care District insurances;
and free refreshments, massages and
entertainment for children.
In response to the tragedy in Haiti, the Open
House also offered its first Creole Bereavement
Support Group. FoundCare Health Center
providers are fluent in Spanish and French
Creole and Creole speaking therapists were on
hand to facilitate. The center staff anticipates
that this will be an ongoing meeting.
In addition to marking the birthday
with a free health fair, staff at FoundCare also
announced that they will offer extended hours of
operation on two Thursdays each month --
continuing their normal 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. day
until 7 p.m. every other Thursday.
“With three service providers and
additional hours,
we should be able to significantly increase the
number of
new patients we see in 2010,” said Yolette
Bonnet, chief executive officer for FoundCare
Health Center. “We have capacity in this
building to see nearly 10,000 patient visits
each year. But we still need to secure
additional funding to maximize the use of this
state-of-the-art home for healthcare with even
more providers and equipment as well.”
Thanks to tremendous support from
private donors, government grants and a recent
gift from the Quantum Foundation, FoundCare
Health Center patients receive affordable access
to quality health care and preventive services,
regardless of their ability to pay. Another
$450,000 grant from Quantum last week brought
that foundation’s total gifts to FoundCare since
inception to nearly $1.5 million -- making them
FoundCare’s largest
donor to date.
“Quantum’s mission has always been to advance
health, education and community betterment for
the residents of Palm Beach County,” said
Jeannette Corbett, acting president of Quantum.
“Our mission aligns perfectly with FoundCare’s
goals to provide quality health care for those
who need it most in our area. Over and over
again we hear the stories of those who felt they
had nowhere to turn to get the medical treatment
they so desperately needed and today are
healthier because of FoundCare’s doctors, nurses
and staff. That is an incredible return on our
investment in this clinic.”
When fully operational, the FoundCare Health
Center will be a full-service health center.
This “one-stop shop” will continue to offer
primary care and preventive services including
medical diagnosis and treatment. Dental and
pharmacy services will be added in the future.
In addition, FoundCare staff already includes
referral specialists to help patients access the
specialty medical and social services that they
need.
“With the gracious support of Quantum Foundation
and other donors, we’ve been able to initiate
core services while readying to apply for
federal support as a Federally Qualified Health
Center,” said Bonnet. “FoundCare will continue
serve all patients -- including the uninsured
and underinsured. Celebrating our first year
with a free health fair was a momentous
milestone in our long-term strategy to achieve
sustainability and secure this important
resource for the community.”
Of FoundCare’s 1,200 new patients, 77 percent
did not have any health insurance, and they
visited FoundCare an average of nearly three
times each for health concerns ranging from
Hypertension to Diabetes, Infectious Disease,
Asthma, Obesity, Women’s Health and other
specialty care. Nearly 75 percent have incomes
below the federal poverty level and they range
in age from infant to 84-years-old. Nearly
two-thirds are female.
“Patients accessing Foundcare services often
have multiple medical diagnosis that have
previously not been diagnosed,” said Bonnet.
“Or if patients had been diagnosed for
treatment, many have stopped taking needed
medications because they have no way to afford
to see a physician or to pay for the
medications. They are amazed at the level of
care provided at FoundCare and the assistance
we’re able to give them to secure referral
services and access programs. It’s incredibly
rewarding.”
To schedule an appointment or learn more about
the Center’s services, please call FoundCare
Health Center at 561.HEALTHY (561.432.5849)