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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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AUSTIN — CommUnityCare Health Centers announced this month that Austin labor attorney Steven Garrett has been elected to its board of directors. Garrett is an associate with Boulette Golden & Marin and is board certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Garrett joined Boulette Golden & Marin in 2013, after three years with the City of Austin as prosecutor and then as an assistant city attorney. Since joining the firm, Garrett has represented clients in a variety of labor and employment issues, including negotiating initial collective bargaining agreements, litigating non-compete and trade secret matters, advising clients on work separation decisions, assisting with federal and state agency compliance and investigations, and of course, defending employment claims.CommUnityCare Board member Steven Garrett

“I could not be more honored to join the board of CommUnityCare. Like for many people, COVID-19 was a catalyst for me to look around my community and see what I could do to help out,” Garrett said. “Learning about the invaluable service provided for low-income people in and around Travis County made me excited to join CommUnityCare in its vision to provide the right care, at the right time, at the right place.”

With more than 27 Central Texas locations, CommUnityCare is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides outpatient primary health care, dental care, pediatric, specialty care, lab, radiology including mammography, a full-service pharmacy and behavioral health services. CommUnityCare is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and is part of the nation’s vital safety net community health system, providing high quality care to underserved communities without regard to insurance status.

CommUnityCare is governed by the Central Texas Community Health Centers Board of Directors. As required by the Health Resources ServicesAdministration (HRSA), the FQHC board must be comprised of more than 51 percent patients of the health centers. In addition to its patient members, the CommUnityCare board represents a wide variety of community professions, including medicine, law, finance, technology and ministry.

“As a Community Health Center we rely on our patient majority Board of Directors to guide our work to improve health equity across Central Texans and especially for our neighbors who are low income. Steven is a welcome addition to our board and his wealth of legal knowledge and his passion for community service is an asset to CommUnityCare and the 123,000 plus patients we care for each year” said CommUnityCare Chief Executive Officer Jaeson Fournier.

 

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(Austin) – Central Health-affiliated CommUnityCare Health Centers is now administering Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccinations for children ages 5 through 11 years old who are established patients. CommUnityCare is also offering booster shots by appointment only to eligible adult patients who completed their primary Pfizer-BIONtech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine series. Children and adult patients can receive their shots at their CommUnityCare home clinic (medical home).

To support the demand for pediatric vaccines and provide adequate staffing, CommUnityCare will close its walk-in vaccine locations starting this Friday, Nov. 12, at Rosewood-Zaragoza, North Central Health Center, and Southeast Health & Wellness Center. “CommUnityCare strongly encourages patients eligible for a COVID-19 booster to come in and get their shot and is also encouraging parents to vaccinate their children five and up,” CommUnityCare CEO Jaeson Fournier said, while noting that, “Vaccines continue to be the most effective way to prevent severe illness and death from COVID-19.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, the following vaccine recipients are eligible for any of the COVID-19 boosters authorized in the United States:

Those who have completed the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine series at least six months ago and are:

      • 65 years or older
      • Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
      • Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
      • Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk setting

Those who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago and are 18 years and older

“Vaccines and boosters are key to stopping the spread and keeping each other safe,” Central Health President & CEO Mike Geeslin said. “COVID boosters and pediatric vaccines are free and will be the best reinforcement for a safe and healthy holiday season.” Pfizer’s vaccine for younger kids is two doses of 10 micrograms, rather than the 30 micrograms per dose used for people 12 and older.

For more information and to schedule appointments, call CommUnityCare at 512-978-9015. For the latest information on CommUnityCare’s efforts related to COVID-19, visit HTTPS://COMMUNITYCARETX.ORG/COVID19/#VACCINEINFO.

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(Austin) – Central Health-affiliated CommUnityCare Health Centers announced guidelines and eligibility requirements for COVID-19 booster shots for patients and non-patients who received their second Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least six months ago.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, to be eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot, individuals must have completed their primary Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine series at least six months ago AND are either:

  • 65 years of age and older
  • residents of long-term care facilities
  • aged 50-64 with an underlying medical condition
  • aged 18-49 with an underlying medical condition who want a booster vaccine based on individual assessment of benefit and risk
  • aged 18-64 who are in an occupational or institutional setting where the burden of COVID-19 infection and risk of transmission is high (including but not limited to healthcare workers, first responders, and teachers)

Studies have shown that after getting vaccinated against COVID-19, protection against the virus, including the delta variant, may decrease over time.  COVID-19 vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent severe disease, although data suggests that mild disease may still occur, especially with the delta variant. Based on clinical trial data, a Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot improves protection against COVID-19, including the delta variant.

“We strongly encourage recommended groups who got their second COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine more than six months ago to get a booster shot now,” CommUnityCare CEO Jaeson Fournier said, while noting that, “Eligible CommUnityCare patients can schedule their booster shot by calling 512-978-9015 or they can stop by our Rosewood Zaragosa Vaccine Clinic,

North Central Health Center, or the Central Health Southeast Health & Wellness Center to get their booster without an appointment.”

CommUnityCare will also be providing the COVID-19 boosters to anyone from the community who is eligible to receive their COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech booster at the walk-in sites mentioned above.

Consistent with CDC guidance, CommUnityCare will only be providing the Pfizer-BioNTech booster to people already vaccinated with two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. People in the eligible groups who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine might also see enhanced protection from a booster shot but will need to wait for further study and analysis from the CDC and authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Vaccines are the most important protection against COVID-19, but we must do even more,” Central Health President & CEO Mike Geeslin said. “As long as COVID-19 continues to spread in our community, even vaccinated people should be cautious about indoor and outdoor gatherings, and while shopping, eating out, and traveling. Masks are an added level of protection and we should keep wearing them as continue to work on getting everyone in our community fully vaccinated.”

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About Central Health
Central Health is the local health care district that connects 1 in 9 Travis County residents with low income to quality health care. We work with a network of partners to eliminate health disparities and reach our vision of Travis County becoming a model healthy community.

 

About CommUnityCare Health Centers
CommUnityCare’s vision is to improve the health of the community by increasing access to the best care possible. Today, CommUnityCare provides services at 27 locations in Travis County. Each year, its health centers provide care to almost 125,000 individual patients through 400,000 plus medical and dental patient appointments.

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It is with distinct pleasure that Central Texas Community Health Centers (dba CommUnityCare) announces Dr. Nicholas Yagoda as our chief medical officer (CMO).

As CMO, Dr. Yagoda is responsible for the overall clinical leadership, provider practice, and overall performance and advancement of a diverse provider group that has the privilege of caring for underserved residents of Austin and its surrounding areas.

Yagoda joined CommUnityCare in 2014 and throughout his tenure with us has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to strengthening the health and well-being of the patients and families we are so privileged to care for. He currently serves as CommUnityCare’s associate CMO and has been intimately involved in our response to the coronavirus pandemic and our recent implementation of Epic systemwide.

Yagoda has also been a physician champion with several other initiatives including the continued evolution of our care model and is a demonstrated champion for health equity. Since 2014, he has continuously cared for our communities as a family medicine physician with a focus on HIV and addiction medicine. He further helped develop the region’s first treatment program for uninsured people with opioid use disorders and is a founding member of the Fast Track Cities/Getting to Zero task force to end the HIV epidemic in Travis County.

Yagoda is also an assistant professor of population health at The University of Texas at Austin’s Dell Medical School, and his writing has been published in peer-reviewed journals including the Annals of Family Medicine, The Journal of Family Practice, and Nature. A native of New York’s Brooklyn borough, he completed his medical education at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, and his postgraduate training at the FQHC-based Lawrence Family Medicine Residency in northeastern Massachusetts.

“We are very much looking forward to our continued efforts at CommUnityCare in advancing health equity for all within Central Texas, but especially for the low-income and underserved communities we are so privileged to serve,” said CommUnityCare’s president and CEO, Jaeson Fournier. “Dr. Yagoda is an exceptional physician, but more importantly an extraordinary individual with a steadfast commitment to enhancing the lives through the delivery of robust, evidence-based, and high-quality primary care.”

 

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CommUnityCare Health Centers welcomes Tara Trower as our new chief strategy officer (CSO) effective June 14, 2021. As CSO, Trower will assist CommUnityCare in leading and advancing strategic initiatives and planning efforts, overseeing community engagement and communications, expanding the development and philanthropy footprint, and continuing to foster strong relationships with community partners.

Trower brings more than 20 years of experience in communications and operations and is a highly regarded, data-driven leader. She most recently served as the chief of staff for The University of Texas at Austin’s senior vice president and chief financial officer, where she planned and managed strategic initiatives for a portfolio of 44 operational units and consulted on communications and media relations strategy for several departments. Trower also spent more than 18 years as a journalist, covering education, politics, government and community issues in Central Texas, most notably as senior editor for opinion and commentary (Viewpoints) for the Austin American-Statesman.

“We are very much looking forward to Trower joining our team as we continue our mission to strengthen the health and well-being of the communities we serve, working diligently to increase health equity within the medically underserved communities of Austin and surrounding counties,” CommUnityCare CEO Jaeson Fournier said.

 

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These are unprecedented times, touched by fear and uncertainty.  As coronavirus and its resultant disease COVID-19 continues to spread within our community, our employees at CommUnityCare, continue to be there for our patients, day in and day out. We are on the front line of providing care to Austin and its surrounding communities with over 120,000 lower income individuals served annually.

Our staff is deeply committed to serving our patients and today is no different despite their higher risk of exposure to coronavirus as healthcare workers. During this time, our nurses, our receptionists, and our medical assistants continue to answer the call to serve and put themselves on the front line of providing compassionate, quality care to all who need it without question. While we are all confronting the uncertainty of our future, the impacts of these decisions are forcing our front line healthcare workers to choose between their family’s needs or continuing to serve the patients that need those most.As an organization, CommUnityCare has committed to maintaining full staff capacity and employment of our team during these challenging times. However, and due to the extenuating circumstances of the current crisis, this support is not enough for our care team members, especially those with modest incomes or who are single parents.

In order to help, CommUnityCare has established a Staff Assistance Fund to provide direct cash relief to our employees who need it most and who have new or increased expenses because of the crisis.  By way of example, many of our frontline team members are struggling with the additional and unexpected cost of childcare associated with school closures. The rationale for this fund is simple – we need to support our employees so that they can continue to support our patients and our community. While CommUnityCare does have a longstanding program to help with emergent childcare needs, it is not enough during these difficult times.  That is why every member of CommUnityCare’s Executive Team has committed a donation to the Staff Assistance Fund. We are asking you to join them in donating to our Staff Assistance Fund.

Thank you for your consideration and please know that 100% of your tax deductible donation will directly support the unanticipated financial needs of our team members with incomes less than $70,000 with a donation of $75 paying for a full day of childcare.

Your charitable donation can be made at the link below:

You can also mail us a check directly to:

CommUnityCare Staff Assistance Fund
2115 Kramer Lane, Ste. 100
Austin, TX 78758