New Health Clinic Opens in County

When the McHenry Community Health Center opens its doors today (Oct. 11) it will also be opening an opportunity for thousands of under-served McHenry County residents to receive quality health care, locally.

“This is huge, huge news. It’s going to afford so many of our residents, who are either on Medicare, Medicaid, or uninsured, access to primary care they have not had before,” said Lori Nelson, CEO of Family Service & Community Mental Health Center.

“Not only are the prices affordable, not only are all the physicians board certified, but the care we provide meets or exceeds the highest standard of care in America,” said Bob Tanner, president/CEO of Greater Elgin Family Care Center.

McHenry Community Health Center will be part of the Greater Elgin Family Care Center (GEFC), a non-profit, Federally Qualified Health Center. “GEFC is one of the few private organizations in the country that is accredited by the Joint Commission,” Tanner said.

Joint Commission accreditation is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards, according to the Joint Commission website.

The health center is located is at 3901 Mercy Drive in McHenry, just south of Bull Valley Road and to the east of Centegra Hospital McHenry. 

Funds for construction of the building were received through a grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act via the Health Resources Services Administration.

GEFC has been operating in the Elgin area since 2001, but in the last few years, more and more McHenry County residents have been using GEFC services.

“Over the last few years, we have had 2,500 unduplicated people from McHenry County, per year in Elgin. That evidence caused us to write a grant to build a health center in McHenry,” Tanner said.

“The county of McHenry has a large section of medically underserved population,” Tanner said. Nelson, of Family Service, explained that many physicians do not take Medicare and Medicaid patients.

Those who do, only take a certain percentage of patients.  She explained that physicians are reluctant to take patients because Medicare and Medicaid do not wholly cover their services.

Tanner said the idea for McHenry Community Health Center received widespread support from the county’s social service agencies, the McHenry County Health Department, the County Board and Centegra Health System.

The McHenry Community Health Center’s Board Certified physicians will offer pediatric, family medicine, obstetric and gynecological care including sick care, well-baby care and chronic disease management.  Centegra Health System will offer a full-service laboratory in the Health Center. 

In November, the County’s Health Department will offer WIC and Case Management services in the Health Center as well.  Discounted medications will also be available. McHenry Community Health Center offers 14 examination rooms and will be open Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.