KEEPING THE ORCHESTRA AFLOAT PERFORMING ON FLOATING STAGE WITH HELP OF A LOCAL BUSINESSMAN
April 30, 2007Jessie Darcey
May 2, 2007
Teche Action Clinic is getting a financial boost courtesy of the Federal government. In exchange for the $580,645 annually, the clinic is increasing its patient load by 2,700 people across southeast Louisiana.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) chief Dr. Elizabeth M. Duke said similar payments will be made annually to ensure the clinic can continue to serve the region’s low-income and medically underserved population.
Teche Action Clinic CEO Dr. Gary M. Wiltz said the policy at the four area centers is to serve everyone, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay for medical services rendered. The additional funds, he explained, will help defray rising costs post-Katrina as more uninsured and indigent patients seek treatment.
Teche operates clinics at 809 West Tunnel Blvd., 189 Mozart Drive in Ashland, 1115 Weber St. in Franklin, and 159 East Third St. in Edgard.
“Across the nation, health centers provide vital medical services to millions of Americans who cannot otherwise obtain needed care. This grant will strengthen Louisiana’s health care safety net,” Duke said.
HRSA manages the Federal Qualified Health Care Center Program, which funds a national network of more than 3,800 clinics comprised of community health centers, migrant health centers, health care for the homeless centers, and public housing primary care centers. These health centers deliver preventive and primary care services to patients regardless of their ability to pay. Charges for health care services are set according to income.
Almost 40 percent of the patients treated at health centers have no insurance coverage and others have inadequate coverage, according to figures compiled by the HRSA.
Teche Action Clinic began operating in Franklin 33 years ago, Wiltz said. Demand for its services has continued to grow over the years.
“With this award, you’re going to see our operation move up to another level. More importantly, we will be able to expand what we do best to those who need it most,” he said.
Teche Action Clinic has been on the cutting edge in the delivery of health care in Louisiana with many firsts. Wiltz said it was the first community health center; the first to achieve Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; the first to provide a residency affiliation; the first to assume a public health unit and a pilot program on prevention; and the first to employ a nurse practitioner and a diabetic educator.
“Teche stands proudly on its past accomplishments, works continuously on improving its present services, and plans ambitiously to expand medical care to surrounding parishes,” Wiltz said. “Indeed as TAC stands on the threshold of even greater achievements, we promise to hold true to our mission and vision of providing access to quality, culturally competent, primary and preventive care, in a barrier free environment.”
The organization is governed by a board of directors, which consists of community volunteers. Over half of TAC’s membership is made up of client users.
Teche’s services include primary care, obstetrics and gynecology, family medicine, general dentistry, dental hygiene services, specialty referrals, family planning, health maintenance, medication management, immunizations, school and sports physicals, WIC, behavioral and mental health services, KidMed, pharmacy services, diagnostic services, and the chronic disease management of diabetes.
