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CommUnityCare Health Centers is set to expand access to care in the northern part of Travis County with the construction of a new $3.1 million health center. The new space is expected to open in early 2023 and will replace CommUnityCare’s existing Pflugerville Health Center which originally opened in 2009.

“Thanks to financial support from both the federal government and Central Health, CommUnityCare’s plans for a new and larger Pflugerville Health Center are becoming a reality,”  said Jaeson Fournier, CommUnityCare Chief Executive Officer. “This new health center will allow us to more comprehensively and thoroughly meet the health care needs of Pflugerville residents.”

The new 15,000 square-foot health center will offer pediatric services, family medicine services, women’s health services, dental services, and laboratory services.  The new health center will also include integrated care coordination, care management, and behavioral health services. Planning for the space includes a large and efficient reception area, a dedicated medical area consisting of 24 medical examination rooms, and a dedicated dental area consisting of 9 to 10 operatories.

The new health center will be centrally located at The Three Points Plaza at 2700 W. Pecan St where patients will also have access to more parking. The new health center will be easily accessible and only around half a mile from the current location. Construction is expected to begin in July 2022.

CommUnityCare in collaboration with Central Health is set to expand access to care by opening four new health centers across Travis County in the span of 18 months. New health centers are set to open in Pflugerville, Hornsby Bend, Del Valle, and East Austin, allowing CommUnityCare to further its mission of strengthening the health and well-being of the communities it serves.

CommUnityCare is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and Federally Qualified Health Center that provides outpatient health care services to lower-income populations in Travis County and surrounding areas across 27 health centers.

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CommUnityCare Health Centers and Central Health are set to open three new health centers over the next 18 months beginning with a new Chalmers Courts Health Center in East Austin, and replacement and larger health centers in Del Valle and Hornsby Bend.  These three new locations will expand access to care and increase services within these Travis County underserved communities, all of which have demonstrated and longstanding health disparities when compared to other areas of Travis County.

“Achieving greater health equity is the core of CommUnityCare’s vision. We know that individuals and families that experience economic and social insecurity consistently experience worse health outcomes,” said Jaeson Fournier, CommUnityCare Chief Executive Officer. “So, when we take a look at ways to provide access to care it’s imperative for us to identify the communities that face various obstacles and develop solutions to address the health disparities residents in our communities face.”

Groundbreaking ceremonies were recently held on the future sites of all three facilities. Hornsby Bend Health and Wellness Center broke ground March 26, Del Valle Health and Wellness Center broke ground April 2 and Chalmers Courts Health Center broke ground April 4.

Chalmers Courts Health Center

CommUnityCare, Central Health and the Housing Authority of the City of Austin will establish this Community Health Center directly within Pathways at Chalmers Courts East, a project-based rental assistance property for low-income residents in East Austin. The 5,000 square foot health center is set to include family primary care services, dental services, labs, imaging, pharmacy, care coordination, and care management. It is located at 314 Chicon Street and set to open late Summer to early Fall 2022.

“The Chalmers Courts Health Center will help remove so many barriers to health care that our residents face every day as they will have this amazing facility right in their own backyard. This health center will help us fulfill the vision for a complete Chalmers Community that supports our residents and east Austin neighbors,” said Michael Gerber, HACA President and CEO.

Hornsby Bend Health and Wellness Center

This new 7,800 square foot facility will be located at 3700 Gilbert Road, replacing the existing Hornsby Bend Health Center. It will offer residents primary medical care, integrated behavioral health, oral assessments, community gathering space, plus more. It is set to open Spring 2023.

Del Valle Health and Wellness Center

This 18,900 square foot facility will replace the existing Del Valle Health Center. The Del Valle Health & Wellness Center will include primary care, dental care, integrated mental health, and a pharmacy. It is set to open Summer 2023.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an expanded recall of Abbott Nutrition’s baby formula warning families not to use certain powdered infant formulas over bacterial contamination concerns.

The recalled products include Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare powdered formulas. The recalled products can be found on the company’s website using the 7 to 9 digit code and expiration date.

As of February 28, the FDA states that there have been four total reports of Cronobacter infections and one complaint of a Salmonella infection. All five of the reported illnesses, which include cases in Texas, have led to hospitalization and may have contributed to the death of two of the infants.

According to healthychildren.org Cronobacter is a bacteria that can cause a life-threatening infection called sepsis and meningitis which is an inflammation around the brain and spine. Salmonella can cause stomach and intestinal illness.

If you are a parent and your baby’s formula is recalled healthychildren.org advises you take it in store for an exchange or refund. It is also advised that you contact your pediatrician if you are worried about switching formulas. CommUnityCare pediatricians are ready to assist and answer any questions for parents who are concerned over which formula is safe.

Parents using WIC benefits should call WIC offices for more assistance if they are unable to exchange or return.

For more answers to commonly asked questions such as what to do if you can’t find a formula in stock due to the pandemic, other ways bacteria can spread while feeding your baby, or special considerations for premature babies visit healthychildren.org.

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Not even the COVID-19 pandemic could stop the success of CommUnityCare’s Healthy Chef Cooking Program in improving clients’ diets around Central Texas.

Founded in 2016, the program teaches nutrition education and provides hands-on learning to use healthy ingredients to create healthy meals. The program lasts six weeks, with six separate cohorts taking lessons in English or Spanish.

“The most rewarding part of this program for me is the cooking classes. It’s really neat to see people who are uncomfortable with certain cooking techniques or do not have good health literacy prepare meals and get that sense of success,” said Elyse Henson, CommUnityCare’s Clinical Nutrition Manager & Outpatient Dietitian.

Healthy Chef serves more than 100 patients per year and, after a brief pause during 2020, has adjusted to continuing its mission during the pandemic Class sizes have gotten smaller. Masks and vaccines are required. And in-class food sharing has been replaced by to-go-boxes that allow for after-hours tasting.

The program increased access to lessons in healthy eating both before and after COVID-19 arrived.  In 2019, for instance, the “Lose to Win” weight management class consisted of three groups with 24 hour-and-a-half long classes, for a total of 108 hours of lessons for Central Texas residents. This year, six groups are taking 12 two-and-a-half hour classes that collectively offer 180 hours of lessons in diet and nutrition.

The instructors present the nutritional teachings at the start of each class. They cover a broad range of topics, such as what it means to sauté or how much is in a tablespoon.

The lessons follow a set curriculum, with the first focused on kitchen safety, teaching participants how to keep meat and produce separate from one another and store them properly.

Other lessons explain what a healthy plate looks like, including the right daily balance of protein and starches and their roles in a healthy diet. Students actively participate in all lessons by answeringquestions, reading instructions, and helping to cook.

Participants are recruited from a variety of CommUnityCare health centers. Information is posted on flyers and digital screens. Physicians are encouraged to tell patients about the program if they believe they would benefit. About 90% of the clients who participate in the program are at risk for health complications.

Many participants cite the class as a highlight of their week. Although participation is limited to once per year, some clients find it so valuable they rejoin the program each year.

To learn more about enrolling in the Healthy Chef Cooking Program, please call 512-978-9269.

 

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CommUnityCare Health Centers provide much-needed dental care to about 17,000 Central Texans each year through seven dental clinics, including three that serve children from low-income families.

Now, the centers will be able to reach these patients even more effectively, thanks to a $150,000 grant from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation. The generous grant will help buy new equipment, supplies and chairs — and directly keep down costs for patients in need

“Many of CommUnityCare’s patients across Central Texas have gone years without regular dental care and are facing significant problems with their teeth and other areas of oral health care,” said CommUnityCare Chief Executive Officer Jaeson Fournier. “We are grateful for this commitment from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, which will directly support our mission to strengthen the health and well-being of the communities we serve.”

The funding is part of more than $20 million in grants the foundation is distributing this year throughout the 15 states and the District of Columbia, where Delta Dental of California operates.

The Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of California and its affiliated companies. Since 2011, it has awarded more than $60 million to health centers, food banks, disaster relief agencies and other community nonprofits to increase access to dental care, oral health education, and advance scientific research. Much of the foundation’s work goes towards improving equity in diverse communities.

“We’re honored to support CommUnityCare and their efforts to promote oral health care in the communities they serve,” said Kenzie Ferguson, vice president of foundation and corporate social responsibility for Delta Dental of California.

“This year, we looked for grant applicants who can meet the needs of those who often do not have access to quality dental health resources, such as the elderly, individuals in rural areas, and underserved communities of color. CommUnityCare stood out as a nonprofit organization that shared our mission and values. We’re very happy to extend this grant to them.”

CommUnityCare’s dental health services include exams, teeth cleaning, fillings, extractions, dentures, sealants, emergency treatment, and exams for children as young as 1-year-old as part of their well medical checkup. CommUnityCare also operates the School-Based Sealant Program for Austin Independent School District Title 1 schools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thanks to a generous $100,000 grant from the Lola Wright Foundation, CommUnityCare will buy a new Ambulance Sprinter van in 2022 that can serve as a mini-medical clinic. The sprinter will allow CommUnityCare’s Healthcare for the Homeless team to expand mobile healthcare services to Austin’s homeless population. 

The funds will also be used for other items to support street medicine, such as sleeping bags, clothing and tents. 

“The Lola Wright Foundation’s support and partnership will help to serve people experiencing homelessness, promoting comprehensive wellness and preventive care while potentially avoiding critical illness and hospitalization,” said CommUnityCare Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nicholas Yagoda. “The Ambulance Sprinter is about providing the right care at the right time, and with the help of the Lola Wright Foundation, this vision will become a reality for more Central Texans.”

CommUnityCare has long served those in Travis County experiencing homelessness, providing them with necessary healthcare and supportive services. This includes operating the clinic at the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH), a shelter in downtown Austin, and offering medical care for unsheltered individuals staying near Sunrise Church, a homeless resource center in South Austin.

The Clinical Lead for the Healthcare for the Homeless team, Dr. Audrey Kuang shared, “Our street medicine team has been providing comprehensive primary care services to unsheltered individuals for the past five years in Austin. Through our consistent and compassionate care, our patients have come to trust us with their healthcare needs and beyond. The sprinter van will allow us to expand our services and our reach no matter rain or shine. We are so grateful to the Lola Wright Foundation for supporting our work.”

CommUnityCare also provides dental and vision care and has served more than 1,000 individuals experiencing homelessness. The grant from the Lola Wright Foundation and the new Ambulance Sprinter will build on these efforts and continue to help the unsheltered population in Travis County better manage their healthcare.

Founded in 1954,  the Lola Wright Foundation supports children and youth, public health and human services, education and community development and arts and culture. It provides grants to organizations in and around Austin.

CommUnityCare expects to purchase and dispatch the Ambulance Sprinter in early 2022. Click to learn more about CommUnityCare’s street medicine team.

 

 

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AUSTIN — CommUnityCare Health Centers has selected Anna M. Lozoya to serve as its Chief Legal and Risk Officer. Lozoya is both a registered nurse and an attorney with years of leadership experience in health care systems in Florida and Illinois that serve low-income populations.

“Anna’s background makes her uniquely positioned to support CommUnityCare and our mission of strengthening the health and well-being of the communities we serve in Central Texas,” said Chief Executive Officer Jaeson Fournier. “More than that, her passion and commitment to bettering lives in underserved communities will benefit the 123,000-plus patients we care for in and around Austin.”

Lozoya began in her role on Jan. 3. She comes from North Shore Medical Center in Miami, where she has served as the Patient Safety Officer and Risk Manager. She previously worked as Associate General Counsel of Risk for Sinai Health System and Risk Manager at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, both in Chicago.

As a nurse for more than 15 years, Lozoya has also directly cared for patients in areas from oncology to wound care and critical care, and she worked nights and weekends in hospitals to help pay for law school.

“I understand the population we serve and am excited and honored to join CommUnityCare and come to Austin,” Lozoya said. “Health care is where I feel most at home. Being involved in the community and helping patients in small and large ways can make a true difference in people’s lives.”

CommUnityCare’s more than 27 Central Texas locations provide outpatient primary health care, dental care, pediatric, specialty care, lab, radiology, mammography, pharmacy, and behavioral health services.

Lozoya said that working for a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) will allow her to “come full circle” since doctors and nurses at an FQHC in Florida cared for her after she accidentally drank cleaning products as a baby.

“They saved my life and FQHCs have always played a very special role for me,” she said,

As CommUnityCare’s chief legal and risk officer, Lozoya will oversee its compliance, legal, and risk mitigation efforts.

A native of Florida, Lozoya graduated from Florida International University before earning her nursing degree from the University of Miami, law degree from DePaul University and MBA from North Park University.

Among the many honors and accolades in her career, she has served as regional president of the Hispanic National Bar Association and, this year, received the association’s Regional President of the Year Award. Previously, she received the National Association of Hispanic Nurses 40 under 40 recognition.

Central Texas Community Health Centers dba CommUnitycare is a 501c(3) nonprofit and an FQHC that provides high-quality and accessible care to underserved communities in Austin and surrounding areas without regard to insurance status.

 

 

 

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(Blog) – This December 1st 2021 marks World AIDS Day — a solemn moment of reflection during the 40th year of the HIV epidemic. For many of the early survivors, World AIDS Day is a somber moment to pause in remembrance of those who lost their lives to HIV; celebration as we note the progress that has been made in science and medicine; and consternation as we pass yet another year of an epidemic that has not been brought under control.

CommUnityCare has been at the forefront of the fight against HIV in central Texas with the David Powell Health Center, which has been centering people living with HIV with comprehensive primary care, pharmacy, mental and behavioral health, and social services for over 30 years. Click on the video to hear from our team members at David Powell who are at the forefront of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.