Health Care Services

Mission: To provide curative, preventative and diagnostic medical, dental and pharmaceutical care or specialist referrals to Catawba County residents who do not have access to these services, through the efforts of area health care professionals and volunteers.

We provide quality medical and pharmaceutical services to uninsured residents of Catawba County between the ages of 18 – 64 who meet 200% of federal poverty guidelines. If you are currently on Medicaid or Medicare, you are not eligible for our services.

Overview of Health Care Services in 2008
Our free clinics had over 3,100 patients in primary, dental, and eye care. We have recently added services in the eye clinic for school-referred elementary children who cannot afford screening and glasses. Our free pharmacy served 6,862 individuals and filled over 34,000 prescriptions. We accept scripts and provide free medicine to those without health insurance residing in Catawba County from both hospital emergency rooms, Catawba Behavioral Health, Black Mountain Rehab, The Clinic for People without Insurance in Newton, and Medical Access for Catawba County providers. Medical Access for Catawba County increased service from 28 patients in 2007 to 160 patients in 2008. This program is a partnership with Catawba County Medical Society and Healthy Carolinians. MACC finds medical homes for individuals without insurance who have one of four chronic diseases—diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and COPD.

Overview of Health Care Services in 2009
One of our fastest growing needs is Health Care Services. The qualified uninsured people of Catawba County are our focus population. The qualified uninsured of Catawba County depends on GHCCM for medical assistance and their medicines. The Diabetic Education Center partnership with Catawba Valley Medical Center and Catawba Valley Community College Nursing has graduated 48 individuals as of May 2009. This is well ahead of the 50 individuals projected for all of 2009. The high unemployment rate (hovering around 15%) in Catawba County along with the expansion of the client base of several local social services nonprofits has resulted in greater pressure on GHCCM Health Care Services to meet this growing need and to recruit more volunteer medical professionals. We are a member of the North Carolina Association of Free Clinics. Included in collaborations presently underway: working with local health leaders developing a collaborative network in Catawba County with the Care Share Health Alliance, several specialty clinics to support uninsured with chronic illness, and the Nightingale's Nest for nurse advocacy (patient case management).

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