3/15/2010

ACCESS Family Care (ACCESS) is working together with the McDonald County Health Department, McDonald County Schools, and other entities to strategically reduce the teen pregnancy rate in McDonald County.
“Our federal review last fall noted that McDonald County had a noticeably higher pregnancy rate than did the counties surrounding it,” commented Don McBride, CEO of ACCESS. The county’s rate of 39.1 per 1,000 pregnancies is higher than the state average of 28.5 according to data supplied by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. “Since we are the community health center for McDonald County, it’s important to us to work with county officials in reducing this rate,” added McBride.
A group composed of county health department officials, school representatives, churches, business people and Crowder College met last March 11 to review the data, discuss challenges and opportunities. “Some positive approaches were presented and by the end of the meeting the group selected two strategic items to pursue,” commented Shelby Bishop, coordinator of the event.
Supporting and emphasizing the efforts of the county health department to increase services was one task the group identified worthy of pursuit. An educational program for parents with the assistance of one of Crowder College’s outreach services was another task that was identified.
“ACCESS will begin working with the McDonald County Health Department more closely and with Crowder to implement these ideas,” stated McBride.
“We’ll keep in touch with the group and keep them updated as we progress,” stated Shelby Bishop, Outreach Coordinator for ACCESS.
ACCESS Family Care (ACCESS), was founded in 1996 as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) for the purpose of increasing access to primary health care for those who lack medical insurance coverage. As an FQHC, ACCESS receives a 330 Federal grant from the Bureau of Primary Health Care designed to offset the expenses associated with providing sliding fee discounts to patients who demonstrate economic need.
ACCESS Family Care—Anderson with both medical and dental services is located at 927 N. Business 71 Anderson. It’s open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM with late hours until 7:00 PM on Tuesdays and can be reached at 417-845-8300. The dental clinic is located in the same building with the same hours, except they close at 2:00 on Fridays, and can be reached at 417-845-2273.
ACCESS Family Care—Cassville, formerly the James D. Warn Community Clinic, is located at 1101 Main Street Cassville, and can be reached at 417-847-0057. The clinic is open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM with late hours until 7:00 PM on Tuesdays.
ACCESS Family Care—Joplin with medical, pediatrics, and dental combined in one location is located at 530 S. Maiden Lane. The hours there are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM and late hours until 7:00 PM on Tuesdays. Medical services now observe extended hours Monday-Saturday until 8:00 PM. For medical appointments call 417-782-6200 and for dental appointments call 417-782-0080.
ACCESS Family Care’s administrative offices are located at 4301 Doniphan Drive in Neosho, Missouri, and the phone number is 417-451-9450.
“One of the special characteristics of community health centers is that they create access to healthcare for the poor and language minority. We are doing a good job with that at ACCESS,” comments Chief Executive Officer Don McBride.
Last year, ACCESS increased patient visits by 26%. 41% were uninsured, 47% were Medicaid recipients, and 4% were Medicare patients. “We’ve seen phenomenal growth as we have responded to the immense primary care needs in southwest Missouri. We have a vision to continue to expand and work with area hospitals and dentists to continue to provide these much-needed services to the uninsured and under-insured,” adds McBride.