Reflections on Success: Health Center Voices

Connecticut

East Hartford Community HealthCare, Inc.
East Hartford

The center began with one building in East Hartford, Connecticut. At that time there was 1.0 full time equivalent (FTE) family practice physician and 0.5 FTE Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. The dental department consisting of two operatories had just been completed and 1.0 FTE dentist and 1.0 FTE dental hygienist were hired.

Since the original funding award East Hartford Community HealthCare (EHCHC) has accomplished the following:

• Grown to three sites—East Hartford Community HealthCare, Manchester Community Health Services, and Vernon Community Health Services.
• Grown from 11 employees in 2002 to over 80 employees in 2008, including 13 medical providers (pediatrics, family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology),
• 6 dentists, and 6 dental hygienists.
• In 2002, services were provided to 1,837 unduplicated clients in 4,814 visits; in 2007 services were provided to 12,341 clients in 39,076 visits.
• Provide mobile dental hygiene services to 20 elementary schools in East Hartford and Manchester.
• Implemented electronic health records in the dental department in April 2008 and will be operational for the medical department by July 2008.
• Completing renovations to the newest building in East Hartford for pediatrics and obstetrics/gynecology by June 2008.
• Currently uses digital radiography.

Here is just one of EHCHC’s success stories. An uninsured female with no health care for years presented to the center for a physical. She had an intrauterine device (IUD) inserted years earlier and wanted it removed. The physician removed the IUD. The patient also stated that she had a rash on her breast; a punch biopsy was done and sent to lab. It was later determined that she had inflammatory breast cancer (mortality rate is 80 to 90 percent) which is the most aggressive type of breast cancer. The health center referred the patient to a specialist for surgery and 2 years later she is doing great.