COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, INC.

 

Community Health Centers, INC (CHC) is a private, non-profit charitable 501(c)(3) organization that provides preventative medical, dental, and pharmaceutical services at nine practice locations throughout Central Florida. Incorporated in 1972 in a trailer in South Apopka, CHC is today one of the premier ambulatory healthcare providers in the state of Florida. The CHC network, with a staff of 30 physicians, 7 midlevels, 9 dentists, 4 ARNP's, and over 200 additional clinical and administrative support staff, provides a wide array of services including:

 

  • Family Practice
  • Social Services
  • Case Management
  • Health Education
  • Immunizations, Adult and Child
  • Vision and Hearing Screening
  • Translation to fit the client's language needs.
  • Pediatrics
  • Internal Medicine
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology
  • Family Planning
  • Dentistry
  • Pharmacy
  • Laboratory
  • X-ray

Services are available to all community residents, regardless of their financial or insurance status. CHC offers a reduced sliding fee schedule based on a person's income and family size.

 

CHC's clinical sites are conveniently located in West Orange County and in Lake County providing access from numerous communities.  Specific locations are the Apopka Family Health Center, Apopka Children's Health Center, Eatonville Family Health Center, Lake Ellenor Dental Clinic, Pine Hills Family Health Center, Winter Garden Family Health Center, Winter Garden Children's Health Center, South Lake Family Health Center, Leesburg Community Health Center, and Zellwood Family Health Center. 

Our Philosophy

 

Primary care services are available to all community residents, regardless of their financial or insurance status.  CHC offers a reduced sliding fee schedule based on a person's income and family size.  Our strategy to meet this mission includes:

  • Employing the best trained clinical and professional staff and providing comprehensive services in convenient, one-stop locations;
  • Maintaining modern and attractive physical locations with evening and weekend office hours that meet our client's needs;
  • Understanding and adapting to the ethnic and cultural diversity of Central Florida and providing culturally sensitive services; and
  • Offering all services to patients at competitive fees with our neighboring health care facilities, and seeking external grant and other financial resources in order to offer special assistance to medically under-served, medically uninsured and/or special at-risk populations.

Affordable care should not be second-class care and at Community Health Centers it is the best care available at any price.

Mission Statement

 

The mission of Community Health Centers, Inc., is to "provide quality and compassionate primary and preventive medical, dental, and pharmaceutical services to Central Florida's economically and culturally diverse communities."

 

Vision Statement

 

That all residents of Central Florida have access to timely, affordable, compassionate, and quality health services. 

 

Our History

  • 1972 West Orange Farmworkers Health Association founded by local farmworkers and consumer activists saw the need to help the underprivileged in the area. 
  • 1973 The farmworkers trailer clinic opened in Apopka.  The first medical team consisted of a doctor, nurse and an assistant. 
  • 1976 Bishop Borders Satellite Health Center opened to serve Winter Garden area farmworkers and residents.  Dental care was also provided.  That same year West Orange Farmworkers Health Association became a comprehensive primary care model, expanding to include pharmacy, laboratory and dental services. 
  • 1978 Our first permanent health center was constructed in Apopka, where it still is to this present day.  The Apopka trailer clinic was relocated to serve farmworkers in Groveland. 
  • 1979 Childbirth services initiated at the Apopka Family Health Center with deliveries at Florida Hospital and dental services were added. 
  • 1983 Permanent South Lake Family Health Center was constructed.  Patient contributions and farmworker fundraising led by board members provided the funds to furnish the new center. 
  • 1986 All sites increased medical staff to create hospital service rotation. 
  • 1989 Accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations makes us Florida's first and only JCAHO (now The Joint Commission) accredited community health organization. 
  • 1990 West Orange Farmworkers Health Association changes its name to Community Health Centers, Inc., to better reflect our mission of service to all the community. 
  • 1991 Community Health Foundation of Central Florida, Inc. established to create private support for our community services. 
  • 1992 Winter Garden Children's Health Center opened to provide children services in a supportive and caring environment.  CHC - County Public Health services integrated to include outreach, early enrollment, teen pregnancy classes, drug treatment, and March of Dimes Community Support Network. 
  • 1993 Leesburg Women's Health Center opens for service.  CHC initiates Community Relations Program with priority goals of educating Medicaid and Medicare recipients and area employers. 
  • 1994 South Lake Family Health Center's renovation project was completed with the support of the staff. 
  • 1995 Leesburg Family Health Center opened the doors for patients. 
  • 1996 Apopka Children's Health Center opened the doors for patients. 
  • 2000 Pine Hills Family Health Center, a public-private partnership, began providing services. 
  • 2001 Eatonville Family Health Center opened the doors for patients. 
  • 2002 Health Alliance Family Care Center opens - Winter Garden Family and Children's Health Center relocated into the new 22,000 square-foot facility, and CHC corporate headquarters moved from Apopka to Winter Garden. 
  • 2004 Zellwood Family Health Center opened offering Family Practice and Pediatric services.   In October the Pine Hills Family Health Center relocated into the Princeton Plaza, expanding from a 4,000 sq. ft. facility into a 19,155 sq. ft. space & added Pediatric Dental services. 
  • 2007 Lake Ellenor Dental Clinic opened in February offering Pediatric & Adult Dental services.

 

Governance and Administration

 

Community Health Centers, Inc. is governed by a volunteer based Board of Directors.  The Center's bylaws and federal program regulation require that at least 51% of the Board be recipients of the Center's services.  The Chief Executive Officer reports to the Board of Directors and is primarily responsible for the day-to-day operations of the corporation.