Community & School-based Clinics

 

Bringing healthcare to people in need, where they need it, at a cost they can afford: It’s an important part of Intermountain Healthcare’s mission. And during challenging economic times, it’s more important than ever.

Community clinics serve people who might otherwise lack convenient access to healthcare: people who are uninsured, under-insured, or who have low incomes or live in areas that are under-served by healthcare providers. In 2008, Intermountain directly operated six community clinics and provided financial support to 10 independent clinics. Together, these 16 clinics provided care to patients in more than 239,000 visits in 2008 (see tables below).

Some clinics are based in elementary schools. In addition to caring for students, these clinics are open to the entire neighborhood. Intermountain pioneered this model more than a decade ago, and it has proven highly successful.

All these clinics provide primary care. Some provide urgent care and dental care. If patients need hospital services, clinic staff members inform them of available options. For those patients who are struggling financially, services are provided on a sliding-fee scale or, for those who are unable to pay, for free.

In 2009, Intermountain is opening another school-based clinic: the Dixon Health Center, located in the Dixon Elementary School in Provo. In addition, Intermountain is contributing funds to help open two new school-based clinics operated by others: the James Madison Health Center in Ogden (located in James Madison Elementary School and operated by Midtown Community Health Center); and the Millcreek High Health Center (located in Millcreek High School in St. George and operated by Southwest Community Health Center).

Intermountain Clinics 1
These community clinics are owned and operated by Intermountain.

2008 Visits 2007 Visits
Cache Valley Community Health Clinic (Logan) 2,170 2,045
Cedar City Clinic (Cedar City) 1,882 2,568
Lincoln Elementary School Clinic (Salt Lake City) 3,623 3,344
Neighborhood Clinic (Salt Lake City) 4,998 6,823
North Temple Clinic (Salt Lake City) 9,102 7,405
Rose Park Elementary School Clinic (Salt Lake City) 2,534 2,390
TOTALS 24,309 24,575

(1) The number of visits for individual clinics may fluctuate from year to year due to a number of factors, including temporary variations in capacity.

Independent Community Clinics Supported by Intermountain 1
These independent community clinics receive financial support from Intermountain and provide services to uninsured, low-income, and homeless people. 2
  2008 Visits 2007 Visits
Central City Community Health Center (Salt Lake City) 23,883 23,037
Davis Community Health Center (Farmington) 8,377 N/A
Doctors' Volunteer Clinic (St. George) 10,152 8,913
Fourth Street Clinic / Wasatch Homeless Health Care (Salt Lake City) 26,119 24,936
Midtown Community Health Center (Ogden) 51,683 50,230
Mountainlands Community Health Center (Provo) 34,660 33,406
Oquirrh View Community Health Center (West Valley City) 39,986 32,757
Payson Community Health Center 2,218 2,629
Peoples' Health Clinic (Park City) 4,494 3,138
Southwest Community Health Center (St. George) 13,585 14,078
TOTALS 215,157 193,124

(1) Clinic visit statistics were provided by the respective clinics.

(2) A significant percentage of Intermountain's financial support of independent clinics is provided via the Intermountain Community Care Foundation, which has been funded by Intermountain.

Access to Care

"Our Intermountain community and school clinics not only provide cost-effective care; they also provide access to care for people who might otherwise have nowhere else to turn."

Terry E. Foust, AuD, CCC-A/SLP
Director, Community Benefit Department
Intermountain Community and School Clinics

The Healers