North Side Christian Health Center

Results: Acquired a historic 5 floor accessible building in 2007 for expansion of health services with a greatly reduced outlay of cash through generous donation of a substantial portion of the property’s value by the seller, UPMC.  Designed the renovations and ft-out as a healthy green building to qualify for LEED certification.  Using the building itself with energy efficient and environmental operating systems as part of conveying the health care message is creating a new model for federally qualified community health centers.  Move-in August 27, 2008. Selected 2007 “Service Provider of the Year” by the Northside Leadership Conference. Implemented Electronic Medical Records and e-prescribing; among only 8% of community health centers nationally using electronic medical records. Assumed management of the public housing health center at Northview Heights in January 2008. Open 5 days a week for residents and surrounding communities.

Target demographics: The Northside has been designated by the Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Primary Health Care as a Health Provider Shortage Area, Medically Underserved Area, or both. Three specific populations have been determined to require the most urgent care: Northside residents living below 200% poverty, residents of Northview Heights public housing complex, and the homeless.  a) Service Area: Pittsburgh’s Northside, home to 48,151 residents in 24 census tractsb) Target Population: The 20,982 members of the Northside population living below 200% poverty (Bureau of the Census 2000), the 3,100 Northside public housing residents (Bureau of the Census 2000; Pittsburgh HUD), and any of the city’s 2,100 homeless persons living in the service area. (Allegheny County Department of Human Services, 2007).

Direct beneficiaries per year: 6,000

Geographic areas served: Northside neighborhoods and surrounding communities in Pittsburgh, PA

Programs:

• Check-ups
• Physical exams
• Gynecological exams
• Cancer screenings
• 24-hour care through on-call physician