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As the battle heats up in the U.S. Congress over the future of health care, medical issues are increasingly being debated in the press and on TV. While this national preoccupation is today’s “big news”, the CAO’s Family Medical Centers have been quietly waging their own campaign to bring high-quality health care to Southeast Ohio for more than 36 years.
Access to quality care is the biggest problem our country faces in the twenty-first century. The CAO operates four medical centers in Lawrence County through the Rural Health Initiative funded by the Bureau of Primary Health Care.
In December of 1999, our Family Medical Centers received JCAHO Accreditation. The Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations evaluates and accredits more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, not-for-profit organization, JCAHO is the nation’s predominant standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. JCAHO maintains state-of-the-art standards that focus on improving the quality and safety of care provided by health care organizations. It’s comprehensive accreditation process evaluates an organization’s compliance with these standards and other accreditation requirements.
CAO’s Family Medical Centers in Chesapeake, Coal Grove, Ironton, and South Point are premier providers of high-quality primary health care in Lawrence County and the Tri-State Area. Our Medical Centers handle more than 40,000 patient visits a year. These visits are made by about 14,000 area residents, many of whom could not otherwise afford medical care. Our centers employ a staff of 60, including 5 full-time physicians, three nurse practitioners, two part-time physicians, and two part-time psychiatrists who provide mental health services two days a month.
The Medical Centers and their services are supported by patient revenues and a grant from the Bureau of Primary Health Care. Our sliding-fee payment scale allows people to get treatment no matter what their financial situation.
Our services include:
| • | Treatment of acute illnesses for all ages |
| • | Sports & employment physicals |
| • | Health screening & examinations |
| • | Referral for x-ray and hospitalization |
| • | Pediatrics & immunizations |
| • | Comprehensive arrangement for deliveries |
| • | Lab testing |
| • | Office surgery |
| • | Cancer screening |
| • | Counseling for other medical & social services |
| • | Mental health services |
| • | Women’s health, pap Smears & family planning |
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Accredited
By The |
CHESAPEAKE
Dr. Drew Apgar, D.O., Family Practice; Nancy J. Lewis, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner; Deborah Primm, Office Manager OFFICE HOURS: MON-FRI 8:00 am to 5:00 pmSAT 9:00 am to 4:00 pm during school year |
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KEMP Dr. Sue Adams, D.O., Family Practice; Dr. David Apgar, D.O., Family Practice; Patricia Brown, Office Manager OFFICE HOURS MON-FRI 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
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IRONTON Dr. Kimberly Oxley, M.D., Pediatrics; Dr. Kathy Watson-Gray, M.D., Family Practice; Barbara Riley, Office Manager; Carol Malone, Office Manager OFFICE HOURS: MON-FRI 8:00 am to 8:00 pmSAT 9:00 am to 4:00 pm |
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SOUTH
POINT Dr. Steven Merkel, M.D., Family Practice; Susan Runyon, Family Nurse Practitioner; Gretta Jordan, Office Manager OFFICE HOURS: MON-FRI 8:00 am. to 6:00 pm |
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Family
Medical Centers
Healthcare for the Homeless
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Homelessness continues to be a pervasive problem throughout this country, affecting rural as well as urban and suburban communities. The exact number of individuals living without stable housing in this country is almost impossible to know. According to the most recent national survey, it is estimated that 842,000 people are homeless over the course of a year. While the exact numbers are uncertain, it generally acknowledged that homelessness in the United States is steadily on the rise.
Lawrence County is no exception to national trends. Bad economic conditions due to job loss, mental health/substance abuse, and disability are pervasive here too. We have seen the loss of huge numbers of manufacturing jobs in the last 10 years which has contributed to our rising number of homeless individuals and families.
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Ironton-Lawrence County CAO coordinates a pilot program providing health care and related services to rural and Appalachian persons who are homeless. All services, including adult and pediatric medicine, OB/GYN, dental, optical, podiatry, mental health, hearing, substance abuse, WIC, transportation, and pharmaceuticals are provided by contract. Outreach services assist difficult-to-reach homeless persons in accessing care and providing assistance in establishing eligibility for entitlement programs and housing. Local churches and the City Mission provide emergency food, clothing, and shelter.
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In addition to our funding through BPHC, our Healthcare for the Homeless Program recently received a grant for the purchase of a new van to use for outreach purposes. The grant was received from the Ohio Department of Transportation and will enable us to provide transportation to medical appointments and other outreach services.
