b'COMMUNITY HEALTHHealthcare for All:CFHCs Mission to Bridge the Gapby REBEKAH PIERCEsponsored by Central Florida Health CareI magine youve finally secured great healthpreventive care a cornerstone of its approach.can see top-tier specialists while still utilizing insurance after many years without it. YouAs a Federally Qualified Health Center, CFHCtheslidingfeescale,savingthemfrom establish a relationship with a private-prac- offersalifelinetovulnerablepopulationsthecrushingout-of-pocketcoststypically tice doctor, and begin planning your futureacross Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties.associated with specialized medicine.family. Youre pregnant, and suddenly, unex- Their doors remain wide open to everyone,CentralFloridaHealthCarerecognizesthat pectedly,youloseyourjob.Theinsurancewhethertheyhavepremiuminsurance,healthextendsfarbeyondthewallsofa has disappeared, and now regular checkupsMedicaid, or no insurance at all. doctors office, leading them to look at the big are out of the question. One of their most powerful tools is the slidingpictureofcommunitywellness.Tocombat Formanyminoritycommunitieshereinfee scale, which adjusts the cost of health carefoodinsecurity,CFHCpartnerswiththe Central Florida, this situation is a reality. Theservices based on a familys income. Ordinarily,United Way to host 9 food distribution sites healthcareinstitutionisdifficulttonavigate,says Bonetti, A patient can pay for a consult eight in Polk County and one in Hardee withhighcostsandconfusingsystemsof like $200 just to have a conversation forCounty.Theyvealsocreatedamedical-standinginthewayofmuch-neededcare.maybe 20 minutes. On the scale, they coulddentalintegrationprogram,bringingdental Central Florida Health Care is working hard topay $25 for the same service.caredirectlytolocalschoolsandhaving dismantle the barriers that stand in the way fordental hygienists provide fluoride treatments these individuals. Theyre making sure qualityThese numbers are just examples of what isto pediatric patients.healthcare remains a right, not a privilege.possible and not a guarantee of those exact Therearetwomajorchallengesregardingprices.ButtheslidingscaleisablessingEven getting prescriptions is easier. Many clinic health disparities among minorities, accordingforfamilieswithouthealthinsurancewholocation have their own pharmacies offering toKarlaBonetti,anAdvancedPracticenevertheless deserve the same access to care.heavily discounted medications and extended RegisteredNursespecializinginwomensWhile affordability is half the battle, physicalhours. Looking ahead, CFHC is even planning health at CFHC. accessisanother.Manymigrantworkersto open dedicated diabetes education centers Low socioeconomic status and low healthand rural residents in Central Florida strugglein their Lakeland and Winter Haven clinics.literacy, she explains. With that [often] comeswith transportation, which is why CFHC hasWith all of these resources, though, Bonetti a lack of health insurance and difficulty havingput some of its clinics on wheels. It operatesstillhighlightstheimportantstepspeople access to healthcare due to poverty. dedicatedunitsthattraveldirectlytoruralcantakethemselvestosafeguardtheir Thesehurdlesoftenforcepeopletodelaycommunities.ownhealth.Communitysupportandself-necessarymedicalcare,ignoringwarningBeyond primary care and mobile units, CFHCadvocacy are key.signs until chronic conditions that are oftenalsoprovideshigh-levelspecialtycarethatWere here for them, Bonetti urges. Although preventable,likediabetesorhypertension,uninsuredpatientsusuallycannotaccess.they may face or think they have so many spiral out of control. Treating an illness is muchTheirclinicsfeaturepediatrics,podiatry,challenges to care, there are open doors for harderthanpreventingitinthefirstplace,endocrinology,rheumatology,dermatology,them to receive the same quality care as in a whichiswhyCFHChasmadeaccessibleandextensiveOb-Gynservices.Patientsprivate office. Education is power.Behavioral Health Dental Health HIV Nutritional Health OB/GYN Optometry Pediatrics Pharmacy Primary Care Social ServicesWalk-ins Welcome 866.234.8534'