History of Community Health Center of Central Wyoming, Inc.
The nonprofit CHCCW was founded in March 1999 to meet the increasing need for comprehensive health care for the medically underserved in central Wyoming. The medically underserved include the uninsured, underinsured, and low-income residents of Central Wyoming. In the fall of 2000, the CHCCW assumed the clinical operations of the University of Wyoming Family MedicineResidency Program with which it has continued to be affiliated. Since that time, more medical providers have been added, a behavioral health department and dental clinic have opened, and a satellite clinic in western Fremont County was established. CHCCW also has implemented a statewide Ryan White HIV/AIDS comprehensive health care service delivery model as well as the Children's Advocacy Project, a centralized coordinating agency for child victims of abuse. Today, CHCCW is the largest primary care provider in the state. CHCCW physicians are board certified and have hospital privileges at Wyoming Medical Center. Through contractual arrangements, CHCCW provides care to approximately half the nursing home patients in Casper.

CHCCW Dental Clinic
The Dental Clinic was opened on September 1, 2003, and has served 4,600 patients. Primary services offered include routine screening, evaluation and prevention, application of sealants and fluoride treatments. Urgent care is also available for established dental clinic patients.

The Dental staff participates in community outreach actvities such as:

• Collaborating programs with Natrona County Public Health for pregnant moms;
  
• Meeting with the Parents Group at Head Start: providing screenings and education for parents and children on site;
• Visiting all Title I schools to conduct screenings, educational programs, and supply children with oral health care products such as a toothbrush and toothpaste;
• Visiting other child-centered community groups like the Boys and Girls Club;
• Provides guest speakers such as Cowboy Ted to local organizations; and
• Tobacco cessation groups and organizations.
  

Dubois Medical Clinic
The Dubois Medical Clinic opened in September 2003 in the town of Dubois in western Fremont County to provide medical, dental and mental health services to the residents of this sparsely populated area of Wyoming. Staffed by a physician, two physician assistants and support staff, the Dubois Medical Clinic sees approximately 1,500 patients annually.

Children's Advocacy Project (CAP)
The Children's Advocacy Project (CAP) provides centralized forensics exams and counseling for child victims of severe abuse and neglect. Funding partners include the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Wyoming Community Foundation, the McMurry Foundation, and the Daniels Fund.

Ryan White Title III Early Intervention Services
Ryan White Title III Early Intervention Services provides comprehensive health care to patients living with HIV/AIDS in four locations around the state. The goal of the program is to provide medical care early in the disease to prevent infection of others and to prevent the development of AIDS.

Health Disparities Collaboratives
As a participant in The National Health Disparities Collaboratives (HDC's), CHCCW is provided with essential training for its health care professionals in the management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, depression, cardiovascualr disease, asthma, cancer, and HIV/AIDS.

CHCCW has been participating in the HDC since 2003, beginning with the Diabetes Collaborative and spreading to the Depression Collaborative. CHCCW is now entering the implementation phase of the Cardiovascular Disease Collaborative. Since 2003, the CHCCW Diabetes and Depression Collaboratives have improved outcomes significantly for its patients struggling with these chronic conditions. By 2010, CHCCW will be participating in all of the Collaboratives.

CHCCW Nationally Recognized
March 2006 - CHCCW received "Outstanding Improvement in Healthcare Outcomes" and "Demonstrating Exceptional Commitment to Quality Healthcare Delivery" awards from the HDC.

Participation in the Collaboratives is rewarding because patients experience significant improvement in their quality of life.

What is a Community Health Center?
CHCs were created in the mid-60's by Congress when it passed the Public Health Service Act. There are nearly 1,000 CHCs across the nation, and until September of 2004, CHCCW was the only CHC in Wyoming. Cheyenne will host the second CHC. To form a Community Health Center, a community has to meet numerous criteria related to shortage of health professionals, poverty level, number of uninsured, and presence of special populations such as a large percentage of elderly. There has to be a large percentage of people who are unable to access medical care because of cost, location, language barriers, or lack of physicians. The CHC grant from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services provides for indigent care and administrative costs not reimbursed by public and private insurance. CHC's are not government institutions, but are community-owned health care centers that are eligible to receive federal funding.

Patient Demographics
In 2005 CHCCW provided medical, dental, and behavioral health care to 14,646 patients who are primarily children, the working poor, the disabled, and the elderly. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of our patients live in households with incomes below $36,619, the median income for Natrona County, according to the 2000 Census. Thirty-seven percent (37%) of our patients have incomes below the Federal Poverty Level of $9,800 for one person and $20,000 for a family of four. Patients are charged on a sliding fee schedule according to their ability to pay. Almost 30% of all CHCCW patients are uninsured.

Funding of CHCCW
Approximately 22% of CHCCW funding is provided by federal grants, 16% by the State of Wyoming*, 3% by foundations for specific projects, and the balance by contracts and public and private insurance reimbursements. Since opening in the Fall of 2000, CHCCW has provided more than $6 million in uncompensated medical care. Since the dental clinic opened in September 2003, 67% of all dental treatment has been written off. As one of nearly 1,000 Community Health Centers across the nation, CHCCW must provide primary health care to all, regardless of ability to pay.

* As of April, 2006, the State of Wyoming will no longer be providing funding and has yet to decide what role the state will play in the future of its Community Health Centers. Wyoming is one of only fourteen states that does not provide financial support for it's Community Health Centers.

Governance
A CHC must be directed by a community-based board of directors that is representative of the community and of the patients it serves. More than 50% of the CHCCW Board of Directors are patients of CHCCW. Current CHCCW Board of Directors are Doug Follick - President, Sean Ellis - Vice President, Richard Growney - Secretary Treasurer, Richard Hodge, Debby Johnson, Susan Karavitis, Randy Stutheit, Rory Franklin, and Marty Thone.