About Us

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.

© Charter Oak Health Center, Inc .•  21 Grand Street, Hartford, CT 06106  •  860 550-7500