The Jane Pauley Community Health Center opened its doors in September 2009 to provide basic health services to east side residents, regardless of income or insurance coverage. Now, one year later, the center is reporting positive outcomes for the patients it serves.
Former NBC news anchor Jane Pauley (TODAY/Dateline) came to Indianapolis today for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially mark the opening of the Jane Pauley Community Health Center, an eastside community health center.
Former NBC news anchor Jane Pauley (TODAY/Dateline) came to Indianapolis today for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially mark the opening of the Jane Pauley Community Health Center, an eastside community health center. Pauley, an Indianapolis native and Warren Central High School graduate, lent her name to the facility, a collaboration between Community Health Network and the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township. The center serves the local community, including students and their families, regardless of insurance or income, with an emphasis on integrating medical, dental and behavioral health. Pauley, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2001, insisted that the center address all aspects of wellness. The 1,600-square-foot center is housed in a renovated space at the Renaissance School at 8931 East 30th Street in Indianapolis. The space was donated by Warren Township Schools, and Community Health Network made a capital commitment of $350,000 to renovate the space. The Community Health Network Foundation continues to leverage its community relationships to facilitate the project and provide long-term philanthropical support. The center offers primary health care services, including preventive and annual exams; well child care; acute care; chronic disease management; sports physicals, basic gynecological procedures (breast exams, pap smears), minor skin procedures and other services. Patients benefit from a completely electronic medical record system (GE Centricity EMR), two bi-lingual staff members (Spanish-English) and state-of-the-art medical equipment. The center has five exam rooms. In addition to providing access to health care for a medically underserved population, the center focuses on the management of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiac disease and depression. Laboratory and hospital services are available through the Community system. Community Health Network is providing a medical director, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, two medical assistants, a psychologist and social worker to serve patients. In addition, the center is a resource location for social services. Medical services are delivered regardless of ability to pay, and the cost of care is based on a sliding fee scale and family income. The center will also serve as a learning laboratory for best practices in the delivery of health care, with the goal of replicating this model in other community health centers around the country. “My name outside the clinic might be the first thing a person would see,” said Pauley, “but it’s the last thing a patient or parent or child will be thinking about, and certainly the least significant part of this new eastside clinic at the Renaissance school. But I’m thrilled and honored to be a part of it.” Renaissance School is located in a part of Indianapolis that is medically underserved. Locating the center inside a school gives local residents a familiar, comfortable place to seek care. “Community Health Network is honored to work with Jane Pauley and the Warren Township schools on such a meaningful project that benefits the local community,” said Bryan Mills, president and CEO of the network. “Our mission is to provide access to health care and improve the health of area residents. This center offers a unique integration of services under one roof—at a convenient location for families.” “Healthy students are more focused on their learning, enabling them to achieve at higher levels,” said Dr. Peggy Hinckley, superintendent, MSD of Warren Township. “When families are healthy, they can focus their energy on supporting their student’s academic goals.” Community Health Network has partnered with Warren Township schools since 1998, when Community opened its first school-based clinic at Warren Central High School. Community now operates several school-based clinics in the area. Though the Jane Pauley Community Health Center is located inside a school, it is not considered a school-based clinic-instead, it is simply a community health center. Once fully operational, hours for the Jane Pauley Community Health Center will be 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Pauley, a 1968 graduate of Warren Central High School, will be honored for her role in the project during an evening dinner celebration.
Eastside Indianapolis native and former NBC news anchor (TODAY/Dateline) Jane Pauley has lent her name to a unique collaboration between Community Health Network and the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township. The Jane Pauley Community Health Center, which will be housed at the Renaissance School at 30th Street and Post Road, will serve the local community, including students and their families, regardless of insurance or income, with an emphasis on integrating medical, dental and behavioral health. Pauley, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2001, insisted that the center address all aspects of wellness. “Much of the health reform debate in this country is about health insurance, but we also need to reform how and where care is delivered,” said Pauley, a 1968 Warren Central High School graduate. “Because it’s in a school, this health center puts care close to home in a place that’s familiar, comfortable and convenient for people, including those who are underserved by traditional health care models. I couldn’t be prouder to have my name associated with a neighborhood clinic in a neighborhood that I will always think of as home.” The Jane Pauley Community Health Center will offer primary health care services, including preventive and annual exams; well child care; acute care; chronic disease management; and certain procedures. Community Health Network will provide a nurse practitioner, a family physician and a psychologist to serve patients and has made a capital commitment of $350,000 to renovate the center’s space at the school. The space was donated by Warren Township Schools. The Community Health Network Foundation continues to leverage its community relationships to facilitate the project and provide long-term philanthropical support. Services will be delivered regardless of ability to pay, and the cost of care will be based on a sliding fee scale and family income. In addition to providing access to health care for a medically underserved population, the center will focus on the management of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiac disease and depression. Laboratory and hospital services will be available through the Community system. The center will also serve as a learning laboratory for best practices in the delivery of health care, with the goal of replicating this model in other community health centers around the country. “Overall positive health outcomes require attention to physical, behavioral and dental health,” said Gina Eckart, director, Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction. “By breaking down the care delivery silos between these specialists, the Jane Pauley Community Health Center will stand as a national example of how integrating the health care delivery system is critical to a patient’s complete well-being and the success of our country’s transformation of health policy.” Warren Township schools and Community Health Network have long been partners in school-based health care; in 1998, Community Health Network opened its first school-based clinic at Warren Central High School. “The Jane Pauley Community Health Center is another example of Warren’s community outreach,” said Dr. Peggy Hinckley, superintendent of Warren Township schools. “We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Community to add health services for our underserved citizens and do so in a school setting.” “There are a lot of ideas and discussion going on about how we can achieve health care reform, but one thing nearly everyone can agree on is that too many people go without access to quality, affordable health care—including tens of thousands of people in Indianapolis,” said Congressman André Carson, who represents Indiana’s seventh congressional district where the center will be located. “Thankfully, families and children on the east side, who simply have gone without much-needed medical care, will find new hope at the JanePauleyCommunityHealthCenter.” Pauley will be in Indianapolis in September for a ribbon-cutting and dinner to celebrate the center. To become a supporter of The Jane Pauley Community Health Center, please contact the Community Health Network Foundation at 317-355-GIVE, or visit eCommunity.org.