About 10 years ago, Mary Britt was in the market for a new doctor. The physician’s office where she was receiving her care at the time was not quite as warm and caring as she would have liked.
Through a friend of her husband, Britt found out about the Siler City Community Health Center. She tried it and today, the 62-year-old Siler City resident remains a loyal patient. “I’ve seen quite a few doc¬tors and I’m very pleased with every one of them,” Britt said. “I’ve been to several other places and no, other place treats you like they do here. They’re respectful and they’re friendly.”
She adds, with a chuckle, “All the doctors make sure I’m getting all my medications — they call me at home to make sure I’m OK.”
Going to the doctor may never be fun but the Siler Community Health which is located on South 10 Avenue, tries to make the experience as positive as possible. Administrators say the health center’s structure fosters a caring relationship with patients and gives employees a positive outlook. Siler City Community Health Center is a federally qualified community health center, which means it gets a small portion of its operating funds from the federal government. That allows the center to provide high-quality care at an affordable price and to not turn patients away who cannot pay. Siler City is part of Piedmont Health, which manages five other community health centers including the Moncure Community Health Center in Chatham County.
“We treat them like they’re family,” said Ed Lowdermilk, the head of Siler City’s pharmacy. “I’ve worked places where we didn’t have time to get to know patients or the resources to make sure that every patient gets the proper care.”
The Siler City Community Health Center can provide more attentive care because the centers have a lower doctor-to-patient ratio than traditional medical offices, according to Debbie Gardner, the center manager. ‘The way we schedule patients, we don’t have to be as frantic. Siler City welcomes new patients!” Gardner said. Both Gardner and Lowdermilk commented that the health center’s staff believes strongly in the facility mission. “Most people here could make more money working someplace else, but what we’re doing here is worth much more,” Lowdermilk said.
Patients say they notice the staff’s concern for them. David Frazier recalls being frustrated that a doctor at a medical office where he used to receive care did not seem to take his concerns about a particular medication seriously. At the Siler City Community Health Center, doctors listen to his concerns more carefully, Frazier said. “It seems like the people here are nice,” said Frazier, a 63-year-old Siler City resident. “They treat you well. I haven’t found any problems with anybody here.” He likes his doctor so much that be brings him fresh vegetables from his garden.
Although some patients initially come to the center because of its affordability, many find that the quality of the care is what ends up retaining them most. Such was the case with Rory Garcia, a 62-year-old Siler City resident who initially came to the center after losing her job as a high school teacher. “I had $10 left to my name,” she recalled. “I paid whatever I could afford to pay.”
Now that she is employed and has health insurance, she continues to use the center for both medical and dental care. “Many people stigmatize Community Health Centers as for low-income individuals,” Garcia said. “I cannot begin to tell you how much excellent the care is here. It is absolutely exemplary.”
Garcia not only gets her care from the Siler City Community Health Center, she also uses the center in her job as a community employment specialist at Chatham Trades Inc. Garcia sends clients there to “job sample” as volunteers. “I will go to no other medical or dental facility because of the positive energy I feel at this organization,” she said. Health center staff says “get-ting to know their patients and feeling like, they are making a difference is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.” There are unexpected bonuses. Said Lowdermilk: “If you get okra and cookies at Christmas, you may well be doing something right.”
Original Article: Chatham News Record, 11/04/11, Pg. 7A