About COHC
Our Mission
The mission of Charter Oak Health Center,
Inc. is to provide high quality, safe, culturally appropriate,
financially and physically accessible health services to the
medically underserved and persons of all ages who come to
us for care.
Overview of the Organization
Charter Oak Health Center, Inc. (COHC) is a federally qualified,
freestanding, JCAHO-accredited, nonprofit community health
center that has continuously provided community-based ambulatory
primary health care in Hartford since 1978. It was formed
in response to the unmet health care needs of the residents
of two public housing projects. COHC is the only community
health center located in southern Hartford. To this end, COHC
provides an integrated model of primary care based on a private
practice model through three major patient care departments:
Medical, Dental, and Behavioral Health. COHC’s target
population is primarily medically underserved and comprised
of individuals and families who are members of racial/ethnic
minorities and who live in poverty.
COHC’s philosophy is to provide comprehensive primary
care to all in need on a sliding fee basis and without regard
to ability to pay. In addition to its community health center
sites, COHC operates several off-site programs in Hartford.
Each of these sites has licensed space dedicated to primary
health care and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation
of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
COHC collaborates with a large number of community organizations
to foster continuity of care and enhance services for its
patients. Working with Saint Francis Hospital and Medical
Center, COHC opened an onsite radiology department at its
health center. Hartford Hospital brought its “Easy Breathing”
asthma program to COHC. COHC is involved in the Connecticut
Migrant Health Network and collaborates with Hartford Behavioral
Health (HBH) and Alcohol and Drug Recovery Centers, Inc. (ADRC),
for psychiatric and substance abuse counseling services. COHC
also collaborates with the University of Connecticut and several
other colleges and universities in the Quad-State area (Connecticut,
New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania) as a training site
for residents and students in the medical, behavioral health,
and dental departments. In addition, COHC participates in
Ryan White Titles I, II, III and IV programs, attends Ryan
White service providers meetings, attends monthly meetings
of the Greater Hartford Ryan White Title I Planning Council,
and participates in the quarterly Ryan White Title II statewide
HIV Care Consortium meetings.
COHC has expanded to meet growing patient demand as funding
has allowed. In 1986, COHC added its Dental Program. In May
1988, COHC began the only federally funded Health Care for
the Homeless Program in Hartford, providing services to this
vulnerable population in shelters and soup kitchens. In 1989,
COHC developed its mental health component and its elderly
health care services in four elderly complexes. In 1989, COHC
has added a fifth elderly complex. In 1995, COHC expanded
its community health center to what has since become its primary
community healthcare site at 21 Grand Street in Hartford,
Connecticut. In 2000, COHC opened its Radiology Department
in collaboration with St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center.
Radiographs, full body x-rays, and various other x-rays that
assist in timely diagnosis and treatment of patients are available
on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. The Agency also expanded
hours of operation from 44 to 62 per week in 2000. In 2002,
COHC opened satellite facility on 401 New Britain Avenue that
has four examination rooms and is staff by a full-time Physician.
Medical
As COHC expanded, it has increased services offered to the
vulnerable populations it serves. COHC’s Health Services
are available for all age groups. COHC has well-trained, qualified
staff including Board certified or Board eligible Family,
Internal Medicine and Pediatric/Adolescent Physicians, specialty
Physicians and licensed and certified Nurse Practitioners
and Physician Assistants, many of whom have faculty appointments
at the University of Connecticut.
OB/GYN-A Certified Nurse Mid-wife provides pre and postnatal
care on-site and delivers newborns at St. Francis Hospital
and Medical Center. A contracted OB/GYN Physician assists
with deliveries and provides overall program oversight.
Podiatry-For more than 15 years, COHC has provided on-site
podiatry to individuals needing expert intervention in the
care of their feet. Podiatry services are available on Tuesdays
and Fridays of every week.
Optometry-On-site eye exams and appropriate interventions
are available by our Optometrist bi-weekly on Thursdays for
individuals of all ages.
HIV/AIDS Services-COHC’s HIV/AIDS programs have expanded
to include the following services: primary medical care to
homeless individuals under Ryan White Title I; primary care
and medical liaison services under Ryan White Title III; Early
Intervention Services; prevention education services and individual
counseling regarding HIV/STD prevention to adolescents under
Ryan White Title IV; Connecticut Pediatric AIDS Program; prevention
education, testing and counseling services to heterosexual
males and females and outreach services to injection drug
users under the current DPH AIDS Program. The HIV/AIDS Program
has expanded the staff to include a part-time Infectious Disease
Physician and Certified Physician Assistant with specialized
HIV/AIDS training and certifications.
NOTICE OF
PRIVACY PRACTICES
