Latest News
Press Releases
10/05/2009
The Macon Telegraph recently published an opinion editorial concerning a local approach to healthcare reform by CHW CEO Greg Dent. Click here for the text of Greg's editorial.
09/01/09
Community Health Works is proud to announce the Central Georgia Regional Health Summit which will bring industry leaders together to address regional health and healthcare issues. Click here for a copy of the press release.
08/27/2009
Community Health Works is pleased to announce that it has been awarded an $80,000 Health Center Planning Grant for Peach County Georgia. Click here for a copy of our press release.
08/13/2009
Community Health Works announces that it has been awarded a $150,000 Rural Health Network grant to implement a Cardiac Care Initiative. Click here for a copy of our press release.
07/07/09
Community Health Works and the Central Georgia Regional Health Summit announce sponsorship opportunities for the upcoming summit. Click here sponsorship details.
11/11/08
In partnership with Georgia College and State University, Community Health Works and the Central Georgia Cancer Coalition announce the new Cancer Care Nurse Navigator Program at GCSU. Click here for more info.
Archived Press Releases
CHW Receives Federal Planning Grants
Forsyth, GA- Community Health Works of Forsyth, GA, has been awarded two federal planning grants totaling $160,000 to help increase access to healthcare for low-income and uninsured citizens in Crawford and Houston counties.
According to Community Health Works CEO Greg Dent, these grants will lay the groundwork for expanding medical access in Crawford and Houston counties.
"These grants should ultimately be of great benefit to people in Crawford and Houston counties," Dent said. "If the planning is successful, it will result in there being a community-governed medical clinic in each county that will have a sliding scale fee-system. Federally Qualified Health Centers provide care for patients of all income levels, but they are especially helpful to people with lower incomes."
Dent thanked the offices of both Senator Saxby Chambliss and Representative Jim Marshall for their support of the grant application.
Speaking of the Crawford County grant, Dr. Fred Gaton, the sole physician currently serving Crawford County, said "I believe this will allow Crawford County to pursue options to help ameliorate the problems with the un- and underinsured."
Houston Healthcare CEO Dr. Tony Alford said that planning to have a Federally Qualified Health Center in Houston County is "a significant step in the right direction."
The planning grants were part of $61 million in new health center grants recently awarded to centers around the nation by the Health Resources and Services Administration.
HRSA Administrator Elizabeth M. Duke, said, "President Bush's High Poverty County Initiative will put health center sites in more low-income counties than ever before. These grants strengthen and support efforts to extend the health care safety net to more Americans who otherwise might not have access to care."
CHW MEMBERSHIP REACHES 2,100 IN 2006
Forsyth,GA.- "At the beginning of 2006, we set a goal of serving 2,000 members in our Rx for the Uninsured program by the end of the year," said Greg Dent, CEO of Community Health Works. "And we made it. Ahead of schedule."
Dent said that CHW reached its targeted membership in October, 2006. Current enrollment stands at 2,100.
"That puts us at about maximum capacity," Dent said, "at least for a while. There are just so many things that go into service capacity. First, you have to have enough physician volunteers. Then you have to have hospital partners and care management staff. And, of course, funding."
"Right now, we are at the limits of the number of members we are able to serve. But we are always working to find the resources to help more people."
Dent said that Community Health works is also expanding the efforts of its Central Georgia Cancer Coalition program and is working with the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget on determining the feasibility of helping small businesses that have not been able to afford health coverage.
"There are a lot of exciting things going on, "Dent said. "The bottom line is always to find more and better ways to help people receive health care and be healthier."
Two Awards in 2006
In 2006, Community Health Works was named the Georgia Rural Health Associations "Outstanding Rural Health Program" and was honored with a Community Leadership Award by the Georgia Hospital Association.
"It always feels good when quality organizations like GRHA and GHA recognize the work you do," said Greg Dent, CHW CEO. "It means that you are being effective in helping people."
In making the Leadership Award, Joe Parker, GHA President, said "Financing, managing and delivering health care is a local issue. Community Health Works program reached across county lines, involved multiple county governments, and many often competing health care providers to develop effective, sustainable solutions to meet the health care needs of all residents."
Community Health works has also been honored with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation "Make it Happen" Award, the National Association of Counties "Best Rural Health Program" award and a Special Commendation by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue.
CHW MEMBERSHIP REACHES 1,000
Comprehensive Healthcare for the Uninsured
at Approximately Half of Average National Cost
Forsyth,GA.- Community Health Works (CHW), formerly Health Care Central Georgia, reached an important member enrollment milestone in the business of delivering comprehensive healthcare services to central Georgians with no healthcare coverage. Currently serving uninsured adult residents of the seven central Georgia counties of Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach and Twiggs, CHW's membership now exceeds 1,000. Inital utilization data evaluation has found that medical services are being delivered to the most complex uninsured patients at approximately half of the average national cost. During this five month evaluation period, CHW saved over $139,000 through care management compared to a national control group of patients with fewer chronic diseases. CHW members utilize the hospitals and ERs at rates lower than the national averaage and report improved health. CHW is a growing network of five hospitals, three public and behavioral health providers, over 60 physicians, one clinic and 20 pharmacies with a vision of better health for all residents through communities working together. In Georgia, 1 in 5 adults have no healthcare coverage and the number is rising. CHW is proving the cost to the community for caring for the uninsured can be minimized by changing the system that finances and delivers healthcare - changes that will improve the overall fiscal and physical health of central Georgia. |
CHW A DEMONSTRATION SITE FOR RETURN
ON COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BY NACo
Forsyth,GA. - The National Association of Counties (NACo), has selected Health Care Central Georgia (HCCG) as one of six sites nationally to demonstrate return on community investment in health systems improvement. Through a grant from the Bureau of Primary Health Care, NACo is providing counties with consultation toward increasing access to care and eliminating health disparities among residents. Part of this assistance helps measure the financial benefit to the area when the basic needs of the uninsured are adequately addressed. Health Care Central Georgia was selected because it provides an excellent opportunity to examine exactly how communities benefit from the partnerships and programs coming from local efforts to improve access to healthcare - Gary Gortenburg of NACo. |