CVMC awards $267,500 The Duke Endowment grant to the Community Health Center
of Catawba County, a program of Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian
Ministry, pictured here
HICKORY, NC – June 13, 2014 – Catawba Valley Medical Center
(CVMC) has received a $267,500 grant from The Duke Endowment to support
the Community Health Center of Catawba County (CHCCC), a program of Greater
Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry (GHCCM). The funds will support
their healthcare programs over the next two years to expand access to
medical services for uninsured, indigent residents of Catawba County.
The effort has reduced the frequency of non-emergent visits and admissions
to the hospital.
“We are pleased to offer The Duke Endowment funding to support the
Community Health Center at GHCCM in its continued efforts to extend valuable
services to the most vulnerable citizens in our community,” said
Tony Rose, CVMC President and CEO. “In 2013, GHCCM’s Community
Health Center served as the primary medical home for 1,437 patients, effectively
deferring a $4.25 million burden of uncompensated care by extending primary
care and pharmacy services to patients who are uninsured or unable to
pay alleviating unnecessary Emergency Room visits and hospital admissions.”
Colleen Anderson, BSN, RN-BC, Director of Healthcare Services at the Community
Health Center of Catawba County said, “Without the charity care
program and CVMC’s partnership, many residents in our community
would not have access to care for acute illnesses and chronic diseases
such as diabetes, hypertension and COPD. This grant will contribute towards
improving the overall health of our community and offset some of the costs
of healthcare services.”
Additionally, CVMC helps the Community Health Center at GHCCM realize its
goals by providing in-kind imaging services at Catawba Valley Imaging
Center and encouraging its professional health care providers to serve
as volunteers. Since its establishment in 1969, CVMC nurses, CNAs, phlebotomists,
pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and physicians have made significant
contributions that help eliminate health disparities in the community.