AMERICORPS

The HealthCorps program at Family Health Centers, Inc. is a partnership of the National Association of Community Health Centers, the Corporation for National Service and eighteen Community Health Centers. The program's mission is to assure the provision of culturally appropriate preventive and primary health care to medically underserved populations and communities. Full-time HealthCorps members receive a living allowance for a minimum 1700-hour term of service (10-12 months) plus health insurance benefits and, if eligible, childcare benefits. After successfully completing a term of service, each member receives an education award worth $4,725 to be used toward previously incurred student loans or future education costs.


ADULT MEDICINE

Adult Medicine services are provided at the main site and the satellite offices. The hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Patients may qualify for a sliding fee scale discount based on income and family size. FHC accepts Medicare, Medicaid and other insurances.


BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Behavioral Health/Mental Health counseling is a way to help patients identify their emotions, feelings, and health risks concerning issue(s) pertaining to them. Patients are offered assistance in making informed health related decisions with the guidance of a trained professional counselor. The hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.


DENTAL

The dental unit is located at the Family Health Centers, Inc. main site and the hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. It is staffed by one dentist, and one hygienist. The dental unit provides emergency, basic, primary and preventive dental services. Patients may qualify for a sliding fee scale discount based on income and family size. Those patients having dental insurance pay for services rendered and are reimbursed by their insurance companies.


HEALTH EDUCATION

The Health Education unit is located at Family Health Centers, Inc. main site and the hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm. The unit provides health education and support groups to diabetic, hypertensive, and teen motherhood to patients at the main site and the satellite offices.


LABORATORY

The Family Health Centers, Inc. laboratory provides in-house services to our patients. The FHC Laboratory is accredited by CLIA and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Ambulatory Healthcare Organization. The hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 8:00pm and Saturday, 9:00am - 5:00pm. Summer hours may vary.


MIGRANT/SEASONAL FARM WORKER HEALTH

Comprehensive medical care is offered to farmers, migrant and seasonal workers in Calhoun, Orangeburg and Bamberg counties. Services are offered Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm with translation services. Patients may qualify for a sliding fee scale discount based on income and family size.


OBSTETRICS/GYNECOLOGY

Obstetrics/Gynecology services are provided at the main site. The hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The unit provides obstetrics and gynecology services by our physicians on staff.

The Best Chance Network is a cervical and breast-screening program managed jointly by the Department of Health and Environmental Control and the American Cancer Society. This program offers free PAP smears and mammograms for low-income patients who meet the program's eligibility requirements. Patients may qualify for a sliding fee scale discount based on income and family size. FHC accepts Medicare, Medicaid and other insurances.


PEDIATRICS

Pediatrics services are provided at the main site and the satellite offices. The hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Services are available for pediatric patients in need of same day treatment. Patients may qualify for a sliding fee scale discount based on income and family size. FHC accepts Medicare, Medicaid and other insurances.

- EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnoses and Treatment). The EPSDT Program provides comprehensive and preventive health services to Medicaid eligible children from birth to age twenty-one through periodic medical screenings. The basic screening package includes a comprehensive health history growth and development assessment, unclothed physical examination, vision and hearing screening, and appropriate lab tests. Immunizations are considered a mandatory treatment service of an EPSDT screening.

- VAFAC: Vaccination for all children. This is a federally funded and state operated vaccine supply program. The program is intended to help raise childhood immunization levels in the United States, especially of infants and children, by supplying vaccines at no cost to all public health care providers and to private health care providers who agree to participate. The federally purchased vaccine is to be administered to children (birth - 18 years). Children eligible to receive VAFAC provided vaccines include the following:

1. Children enrolled in Medicaid
2. Children who do not have health insurance that covers immunization
3. Children who are American Indian or Native Alaskan

- FIRST STEPS: Program to screen children without health insurance.


PHARMACY

The Family Health Center Pharmacy provides pharmacy services at the main site and at the Vance site. Hours of operation for Central Pharmacy are 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. Operational hours are 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday at the Vance site.

We provide pharmaceutical services to patients at all of the surrounding sites that are affiliated with FHC. The cost of medication to our patients is computed based on contractual bids received from various companies and wholesalers.

Patients may qualify for a sliding fee scale discount based on income and family size. The pharmacists provide counseling to the patients at the time medication is being dispensed.

Prescription Requests: All refill requests by phone are filled within 24 hours or one working day. Patients who need refills during visits will receive them during the same day.

Sample Medications: Are kept on the unit(s), where the doctors have to sign for the medication from the drug representative, and a sample log sheet is kept as a tracking tool.

Stock Medications: Are requisitioned from the pharmacy department per request signed by unit coordinator or unit head. Medicine can be requisitioned on a daily basis.

Controlled Substances: Are dispensed according to the doctor's order and according to Federal and State Regulations. All prescriptions with refills are only good for six (6) months from date written and no more than five (5) refills. No more than 30 days supply or 20 dosage unit which ever is the lesser of the two can be dispensed at a given time. A refill request cannot be filled if less than 30 days lapsed. An inventory is prepared annually by the pharmacy department, as well as a yearly inspection by DHEC and the Board of Pharmacy. A bi-annual inventory is required by DHEC on all controlled drugs.


PODIATRY (Footcare)

Podiatry services are provided for non-surgical and surgical foot care. New patients receive a comprehensive, Podiatric assessment. Referrals from all satellites are accommodated, as services are offered at our Podiatry site in Orangeburg and our satellite office in Denmark, SC. The hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Patients may qualify for a sliding fee scale discount based on income and family size.


RADIOLOGY

The Radiology Unit is staffed by a Registered Radiological Technologist between the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Some of the services provided are regular diagnostic x-rays, chest, hand, feet, etc.


URGENT CARE

The Urgent Care Unit services patients in need of same day treatment. Hours of operation are Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Summer hours may vary.


OTHER SERVICES

ALTERNATIVE COMMUNIATION SERVICES

A patient may access any of these alternative methods of communication and efforts will be made to accommodate the patient's preferred means of communication.

1. SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS

A list of interpreters in our service area can be obtained through the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind. (803) 763-4496 (Voice) - (803) 763-4527 (TDD).

2. FOREIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS

FHC employs a Spanish-speaking interpreter.

All consent forms, and other significant documents are available for Spanish speaking patients.

Family members are used as interpreters only at the request of the patient.