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Community health centers offer affordable medical care to patients in need
NORTH KINGSTOWN — According to Rhode Island for Health, 120,000 Rhode Islanders were without health insurance in 2004.
The need for quality, affordable health care for the uninsured and underinsured is an issue affecting more than just Rhode Islanders.
In May 2006, Massachusetts was the first state to pass a law requiring all its citizens have some form of health insurance by July 1, 2007.
The law uses a combination of financial incentives and penalties to dramatically expand access to healthcare over the next three years and extend coverage to the state’s estimated 500,000 uninsured.
And while the Ocean State has yet to follow Massachusetts’ lead, there are clinics throughout the state working to provide quality, affordable health care to individuals and families who need it. Bayside Family Healthcare Inc., a community Health Center, is a 501-3c non-profit center that offers every demographic affordable healthcare. The center is open five days a week and has between 2,000 and 3,000 patients.
Located in Quonset, Bayside offers both uninsured and insured patients family medicine, obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, dentistry, mental health counseling and laboratory testing.
There are 12 community health care centers in Rhode Island including Bayside: BlackStone Valley Community Health Care in Pawtucket and Central Falls, Block Island Health Services in Block Island, CCAP/Family Health Services in Cranston, Warwick and Coventry, Chad Brown Health Center in Providence, East Bay Community Action Program in Newport and Riverside, Northwest Health Center in Pascoag, Providence Community Health Centers in Providence, Thundermist Health Center in Woonsocket, West Warwick and Wakefield, Crossroads Rhode Island in Providence, Tri-Town Health Center in Johnson and Wood River Health Services in Hope Valley.
In 2006, Rhode Island based community health centers saw 113,015 patients.
“We’re the safety net for people who don’t have insurance. There’s a big misconception that the uninsured are people who don’t work and that’s just not the case,” said medical director Dr. Fred Vohr.
Vohr said Rhode Island has a large amount of small businesses that can’t afford to offer employees health insurance.
Bayside offers healthcare on a sliding scale to patients who financially qualify. The patients must show a tax return for proof of income.
“We’re watched heavily like the IRS to make sure we implement this scale properly,” said Executive Director Deirdre Norton.
Bayside’s providers include Dr. Vohr, Dr. Susan Taft, family physician, Jo Ann Stengel, RNP, family nurse practitioner, Robert Grace, DMD, dentist, Janice Patenaude, RDH, dental hygienist, Joseph Hyde, MHC, behavioral health counselor and Jessica Manyon, DO.
“Our providers are very in-tune to the patients. They take the time to explain things to the patients and take steps to ensure they understand. We really do have a wonderful group of providers here,” said Norton.
The center focuses on education and prevention of chronic care, childhood obesity and controlling diabetes. Bayside also works with the North Kingstown school system by conducting physicals and immunizations.
“It’s vitally important to keep up with diabetes. Roughly it costs $5,000 a year to live with diabetes. We require patients to meet with us monthly to make sure their sugar levels are where they’re suppose to be,” said Vohr.
In addition to the family practice, Bayside has a three-room dentist wing.
Dr. Grace as been with Bayside since 2001 and runs a full practice.
A large number of private dentists don’t accept state and federal insurance like Medicaid because of reimbursement costs. Bayside offers patients who have Medicaid an assortment of dental care options. “Over 10 percent of Rhode Islander’s have Medicaid and they’re limited as to where they can go for treatment,” he said.
Dr. Grace and his dental hygienist also visit local nursing homes to provide patients with dental care.
Though located in Quonset, Bayside doesn’t deal with as many companies as they’d like.
“We do have a collaboration with Electric Boat, but we want to let the businesses know we’re right next door to help with their medical needs,” said Vohr.
Bayside’s mission is to provide quality healthcare to all patients regardless of their ability to pay.
“This center is mission driven. We treat everyone through their life cycle and if there’s something we can’t treat, we’ll refer them to someone who can. We’re looking to expand our mental health counseling. All our patients are family,” said Norton.
Bayside Family Healthcare, Inc. is located at 308 Callahan Road in North Kingstown. For more information call 295-9706.
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