Health Center Rates High in Key Health Measures

 Recently received data for 2009 reveals that ACCESS Family Care (ACCESS) rates higher than state and national averages on key healthcare measures. CEO Don McBride states, “This shows what we have believed all along, as a community health center, we are doing a good job serving the health care needs of our communities.”

The Uniform Data Systems (UDS) report is a compilation of healthcare outcome data from Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) across the state and nation. 77% of ACCESS patients had their fist prenatal visit in their first trimester, while the national average was lower at 67% and the state average was even lower at 62%.

Dr. Debra Davidson, COO, adds, “Low birth weights indicate a lot of issues which may result from lack of or infrequent prenatal care or other intervening health issues.” The state average was almost 9% while ACCESS rated less than half that at just under 4% of babies with low birth weights.

70% of ACCESS’s hypertensive patients met the designated blood pressure goals while the national and state averages were less at 63% and 65%. “One item that is very exciting to us is that 44% of our diabetic patients have their HbA1c rates under 7. We wish the percentage were higher, but the national average is only 40% and we are still higher than the state’s average,” states Davidson. Davidson also credits the area medical community’s support for combating diabetes along with the diabetic collaborative with area hospitals and clinics.

The report states that ACCESS had 84% of its two-year-olds immunized, while the state only had 65% and the national average was even lower at 63%. “We need to work on increasing the percentage of women receiving PAP tests, but we identified that and started working on it early this year, “adds Davidson.  

“These results don’t surprise me. I know we have some of the best doctors and nurse practitioners around who really care for their patients. Our clinical support staff work hard to serve our patients and medical providers. The results evidence this. It’s good to get the comparison data to see where we land, and we landed well, “states McBride.

 ACCESS Family Care (ACCESS), was founded in 1996 as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) for the purpose of increasing access to primary health care for those who lack medical insurance coverage. As an FQHC, ACCESS receives a 330 Federal grant from the Bureau of Primary Health Care designed to offset the expenses associated with providing sliding fee discounts to patients who demonstrate economic need.

ACCESS Family Care—Anderson with both medical and dental services is located at 927 N. Business 71 Anderson. It’s open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM with late hours until 7:00 PM on Tuesdays and can be reached at 417-845-8300. The dental clinic is located in the same building with the same hours, except they close at 2:00 on Fridays, and can be reached at 417-845-2273.

ACCESS Family Care—Cassville, formerly the James D. Warn Community Clinic, is located at 1101 Main Street Cassville, and can be reached at 417-847-0057. The clinic is open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM with late hours until 7:00 PM on Tuesdays.

ACCESS Family Care—Joplin with medical, pediatrics, and dental combined in one location is located at 530 S. Maiden Lane. The hours there are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM and late hours until 7:00 PM on Tuesdays. Medical services now observe extended hours Monday-Saturday until 8:00 PM. For medical appointments call 417-782-6200 and for dental appointments call 417-782-0080.

ACCESS Family Care’s administrative offices are located at 4301 Doniphan Drive in Neosho, Missouri, and the phone number is 417-451-9450.  

“One of the special characteristics of community health centers is that they create access to healthcare for the poor and language minority. We are doing a good job with that at ACCESS,” comments Chief Executive Officer Don McBride.

Last year, ACCESS increased patient visits by 25%.  41% were uninsured, 47% were Medicaid recipients, and 4% were Medicare patients. “We’ve seen phenomenal growth as we have responded to the immense primary care needs in southwest Missouri. We have a vision to continue to expand and work with area hospitals and dentists to continue to provide these much-needed services to the uninsured and underinsured,” adds McBride.