www.auch.org · www.utcommunityhealth.jobs
Table of Contents
UNDERSTANDING HEALTH CENTER FINANCES
Access for all
All Utahns
Deserve access to primary and preventive health care.
You will find that at community health centers throughout Utah.
to
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS ARE WHERE MEDICINE MAKES A DIFFERENCE EVERY DAY. IT IS WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BARRIERS TO CARE FIND THE HELP THAT THEY NEED - AND HEALTH CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE DEDICATED TO THAT EXACT CAUSE. THIS IS WHAT MEDICINE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. THIS IS WHERE MEDICINE MATTERS.
Van Aston, PA-C Medical Director Fourth Street Clinic
2023 YEAR IN REVIEW
173k + patients served 625k + clinic visits
1 in 24 Utahns
1 in 4 Uninsured Utahns
1 in 4 Utahns Living in Poverty*
86% of patients are at or below 200% of the poverty line
61% of patients identify as a racial or ethnic minority
40k+ children
61k+ rural Utahns
9k+ patients experiencing homelessness
8k+ agricultural workers
1k+ veterans
WHOLE PERSON CARE
Medical Dental
• Family/Internal Medicine
• Pediatrics
• Obstetrics/Gynecology
• Health screenings
• Diagnostic/Laboratory services
• Radiologic services
• Chronic care management
• Vaccinations
• Screenings
• Restorative services
• Preventive services
• Emergency services
• Prophylaxis
• Oral surgery
• Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
• Traditional therapy
• Integrated behavioral health
• Psychiatry
• Medication management
• Case management
• Crisis intervention
Enabling/Other
• Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) screenings & referrals
• Transportation
• Translation
• Health education
• Health insurance enrollment and assistance
• Eye exams
• Diabetic retinopathy screening
• Optometry
Understanding Health Center Finances
Health centers receive a base grant from HRSA to provide affordable access to primary and preventive health care for underserved areas and under-represented populations. However, the majority of health center operating funds come from patient revenues including Medicaid, Medicare, commercial insurance, patients who self-pay, and other resources.
To provide affordable care, health centers leverage other programs, including the 340B drug pricing program; free vaccinations from the Vaccines for Children program; provider loan repayment through the National Health Service Corps (NHSC); and access to professional malpractice coverage through the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA).
COVID-19 FUNDING
Understanding Sliding Fee Discounts
Total revenue by payer How
Health centers are not free clinics. Health centers are required to offer their services on a sliding fee scale (SFS) for low-income patients, and they cannot turn away patients for an inability to pay.
Patients with incomes between 100-200% of the current Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) are charged on a sliding fee scale and patients below 100% FPG may only be charged a nominal fee.
Source: https://bphc.hrsa.gov/programrequirements/compliancemanual/chapter-9.html
Received $43M in HRSA grants to support SFS
Collected $19M in self-pay SFS
Billed $209M in self-pay services
Resulting in a $147M deficit which must be made up through other patient and grant revenue
Utah's Community Health Centers
In this document, unless otherwise noted, the term “Community Health Center” is used to refer to organizations that receive grants under the Health Center Program as authorized under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act, as Amended (42 U.S.C. 245b) (referred to as “grantees”) and FQHC Look-Alike organizations, which meet all Health Center Program requirements but do not receive Health Center Program grants. It does not refer to FQHCs that are sponsored by tribal or Urban Indian Health Organizations, except for those that also receive Health Center Program grants.
Carbon Medical Service
A History Going Back Over 70 Years!
The original Carbon Medical facility was opened in 1952 in Dragerton, Utah and was primarily dedicated to meeting the needs of the mining industry. The clinic changed its focus over time from serving just the mining industry to meeting the needs of the broader community and, in 1992, proudly became one of Utah’s first Community Health Centers.
Since then, Carbon Medical has grown into a multi-location health center, offering medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services. We ensure that quality care is accessible to all, regardless of income, and continue to serve our community with compassion.
Carbon and Emery Counties have long been heavily impacted by the opioid epidemic and the associated problems that come with it, including higher rates of premature death and incarceration. As part of our commitment to the community, Carbon Medical became an early provider of in-clinic substance use disorder care, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), and we have worked tirelessly to provide access to MAT and related services to as many individuals as possible.
Carbon Medical’s commitment to meeting community needs prompted us to apply for HRSA funding to better serve individuals who are leaving incarceration (which is frequently associated with opioid misuse and its aftermath). In 2024, we were awarded Transitions in Care for JusticeInvolved Populations funding which will allow us to partner with the Carbon and Emery County jails to help people leaving incarceration to re-enter the community. The goal is for Carbon Medical to coordinate a transition of care for these people, increasing their access to community-based, highquality services that will address their unique health and health-related social needs. The transition will begin 90 days prior to someone’s release from incarceration and is designed to help that individual make a smooth transition back into the community. Our staff will help these individuals get health insurance, and assist them with other needs such as housing, resumes to help market their skills to potential employers, reliable transportation, and basics like clothing, food, etc. Our staff will work with these individuals to set up necessary health care appointments and help the individuals keep them. The long-term goal is to make re-entry as seamless as possible so the risk for recidivism is as low as possible.
Carbon Medical is proud of our past, excited about our recent growth, and looking forward to a brighter and healthier future for our community!
Meeting the Needs of Our Community Today
Community Health Centers, Inc.
118,747 visits 35,472 patients served
5,960 Agricultural Workers 12,503 Children / Adolescents 22,969 Adults
Community Health Centers - 72nd Street Clinic 220 West 7200 South, Suite A Midvale, UT 84047
Community Health Centers - Bear River Clinic 440 West 600 North Tremonton, UT 84337
Community Health Centers - Brigham City Clinic 980 South Medical Drive, Suite 1 Brigham City, UT 84302
Community Health Centers - Central City Clinic
610 South 200 East, Suite B Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Community Health Centers - Ellis R. Shipp Clinic 4535 South 5600 West West Valley City, UT 84120
Community Health CentersNeighborhood Clinic 1388 South Navajo Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Community Health Centers - Oquirrh View Clinic (Medical/ Dental) 4745 South 3200 West Taylorsville, UT 84129
Community Health Centers - Stephen D. Ratcliffe Clinic (Medical/Dental) 1365 West 1000 North Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Community Health Centers, Inc. Administration Offices 1455 West 2200 South, Suite 300 West Valley City, UT 84119
Our Commitment to our Mission
CHC, Inc.’s mission is to provide quality patient-centered primary care services to vulnerable and underserved individuals regardless of their ability to pay.
We meet this mission every day by providing comprehensive primary and preventive care to patients without imposing the financial barriers to care that are found in many of today’s health care delivery systems. We provide care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. In 2023, over half of the patients seen in our clinics were uninsured. To ensure access for all, we offer care to uninsured patients on a sliding fee scale based on their ability to pay and help eligible patients to enroll in appropriate public or private insurance programs.
Healthy Moms & Babies
While CHC, Inc. provides care to patients across the lifespan, we are very proud of our prenatal, labor and delivery efforts. In 2023, CHC, Inc.’s providers delivered 1,454 new babies. Our comprehensive care for moms-to-be pays off with healthier babies. In 2023, 5.6% of babies delivered by CHC, Inc. providers were low- or very low-birth weight, while 7.0% of all Utah babies fell into one of those two categories.
Utah's First Teaching Health Center!
In 2023, CHC, Inc. was awarded the first Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education grant in Utah. On October 29, 2024, CHC, Inc.’s program was approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education as a fully accredited Family Medicine residency program. CHC, Inc. is reviewing our first set of applicants and we plan to have four residents beginning on July 1, 2025. This exciting new program allows CHC, Inc. to extend our mission to training the next generation of healthcare professionals to effectively meet the needs of a culturally diverse population.
Creek Valley Health Clinic
Type of visit
Patients
16,456 visits
3,474 patients served
1,909 Adults
1,565 Children / Adolescents
Locations
Creek Valley Health Clinic 20 Colvin Street Colorado City, AZ 86021
Creek Valley Health Clinic Administrative Offices 1065 North Hilldale Street Hilldale, UT 84784
Providing Critical Access to Medical Services
Creek Valley Health Clinic opened our doors in December 2019 and has been providing comprehensive medical, dental and behavioral health services to our community ever since. To continue to meet community needs in 2024 and beyond, Creek Valley Health Clinic added six medical rooms, three behavioral health rooms, and nine dental operatories to support and expand access to our integrated model of care.
Making Mental Health
Accessible to All
In 2024, Creek Valley Health Clinic was a recipient of the Behavioral Health Service Expansion grant from HRSA to expand and improve access to behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment services in our community. As part of the expansion, Creek Valley Health Clinic now contracts with a psychiatrist to provide in-clinic services, primarily to support youth and adults experiencing autism, severe mental illnesses, and substance use disorders.
Going Past the Clinic Doors to Build a Healthier Community
Creek Valley Health Clinic partners with our local food bank and Utah State University on a collaborative program called: ‘Strengthening Nutrition and Activity in our Connected Community’ (SNACC). The SNACC Program provides access to healthy food, nutritionist education, and recipe books to help residents with low incomes and/or chronic health conditions live healthier lives through changing their diet. The Clinic also provides ‘produce prescriptions’ in collaboration with a local marketplace to help low-income patients combat food insecurity.
As part of a program to improve health outcomes and decrease accidental deaths and injuries, Creek Valley Health Clinic's medical providers started an adolescent mountain biking team (Creek Valley Condors) to improve connections and health among local youth. The Clinic received donated bikes and used a one-time grant to purchase program equipment (bikes, helmets, safety gear) to reduce barriers for children to be part of this fun community team.
“This is a community that has a strong need for community health and intervention; that goes for medical, behavioral, and dental services,” said Hunter Adams, CEO and co-founder of the nonprofit Creek Valley Health Clinic. “We’re really looking to transform our entire community and help our community live as safe, healthy, and empowered as possible.”
Enterprise Valley Medical Clinic
3,042
Type
Back-to-School Health Fair
In August 2024, Enterprise Valley Medical Clinic, in partnership with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, hosted a lively Back to School Health Fair. The event featured booths sponsored by local and regional agencies, programs, and departments. These organizations provided information, fun activities, and helpful demonstrations aimed at promoting health and safety for kids, parents, and families. The event had great turnout from the community, and we are thrilled about the lasting impact it had in fostering health awareness and wellness in our community.
Eight years ago, our staff started the Senior Citizen Angel Tree program, in collaboration with the Enterprise Senior Citizen Center, to give back to Enterprise’s seniors at Christmas. The program gathers the needs and wishes of local seniors, and community members can participate by adopting angels from the tree, purchasing gifts for the seniors, and returning them anonymously. The gifts are then delivered to the seniors for Christmas. The program has been so well-received that it has become an annual tradition, eagerly anticipated by our staff and the community.
In October we hosted a Diabetic Fair, an informative and interactive event designed to raise awareness about diabetes, provide education, and support individuals who are living with the condition. People had opportunities to learn about the latest advancements in diabetes care, access free health screenings, and participate in workshops focused on topics like blood sugar management, healthy cooking, exercise routines, and mental health. This was a valuable opportunity for individuals with diabetes to connect with providers and staff outside of an exam room, learn more about their condition, and take proactive steps towards better health management.
Spotlight on Caroline Wallin, our Clinical Manager, and her Medical Mission to Kenya
In 2024, Caroline Wallin participated in her second trip to Kenya where she spent a month assisting in the medical care of approximately 200 patients per day. The mission, organized by the medical humanitarian group Hands for Health, gave Caroline the opportunity to see a wide array of exotic medical conditions, but the most common and severe cases she encountered were burn injuries, primarily caused by the open fire cooking methods that many Kenyans use in rural areas.
Caroline provided hands-on care which not only broadened her clinical expertise but also gave her a profound sense of gratitude for the healthcare resources available in the United States. She observed firsthand the extreme poverty that many Kenyans face with limited or no access to healthcare, clean water, or proper nutrition. Despite these hardships, she was struck by the warmth and resilience of the Kenyan people. "Happiness is a mindset," she remarked. "The people we served had so little, yet they were among the happiest people I've ever met."
In addition to providing direct medical care, the group offered health education and provided vital supplies to villages. At locations with schools, they set up maturation clinics for young girls, and provided hundreds of feminine hygiene kits, addressing a critical need for many women and girls.
Caroline noted the similarities between the challenges she faced in Kenya and those she sees at the Enterprise Valley Medical Clinic. Both communities have limited access to healthcare, transportation, and financial stability. She is proud to be able to provide quality care to both groups. "My time in Kenya reinforced my commitment to serving the underserved," Wallin said. "Whether it's in rural Kenya or here in my own community, the need for accessible healthcare is universal, and I hope to continue making a difference wherever I'm needed."
Family Healthcare
Provider of Choice: Committed to High-Quality, Accessible Care
Family Healthcare’s commitment to providing high-quality, accessible care earned us recognition across multiple domains in 2024. We received the HRSA Silver Health Center Quality Leader badge, positioning us among the top 20% of health centers nationwide for Clinical Quality Measure performance.
We are equally honored by local communities’ recognition in 2024. Family Healthcare received the Gold Award for Urgent Care/Walk-in Clinic and the Silver Award for Doctor & Medical Facility in the Best of Iron County Awards. We were awarded Silver for Family Physician in the Best of Southern Utah Awards. This reflects the trust and confidence our communities place in us as a leading healthcare provider in Southern Utah.
Family Healthcare remains committed to being the provider of choice in our communities, delivering excellence in healthcare and prioritizing patient access, quality, and satisfaction.
Employer of Choice: Fostering a Loyal, Experienced Team for Quality Care Integrated Services: Comprehensive, One-Stop Healthcare for All
At Family Healthcare, we believe that staff dedication is fundamental to providing high-quality care. In 2024, we celebrated long-tenured team members including Shauna, who has been with us for 19 years, Dorian, who has served for 11 years, and six providers who have been with us for over seven years. These individuals exemplify loyalty, compassion, and dedication.
Long-term tenure among staff is vital to delivering consistent, personalized care. Our patients see familiar faces and interact with providers who know their medical history and understand their health needs.
Family Healthcare is committed to an environment that encourages employee retention. By investing in team growth and well-being, we create a workplace where employees feel valued, motivating them to provide exceptional care for years to come. Family Healthcare’s culture of respect, support, and commitment strengthens the quality of care we provide.
Family Healthcare has long championed a comprehensive approach to healthcare, providing integrated services to address patient needs in one location. By offering medical, behavioral health, dental, pharmacy, and optometry services, we aim to create a truly holistic patient experience. This model is especially helpful for patients with complex healthcare needs or transportation challenges who can have their needs met in one location.
In 2023, Family Healthcare served a record number of patients, 16,174 individuals—roughly 8% of the combined populations of Washington and Iron Counties. Nearly half of our patients identify as ethnic minorities, and nearly a third prefer to communicate in a language other than English. To meet patient needs, many staff are fluent in Spanish and providers have access to translation devices as needed.
Family Healthcare’s integrated model allows us to provide optimal mental health treatment and in 2024, we provided crucial mental health services to over 5,000 patients. We also received a Behavioral Health Service Expansion Grant from HRSA which will allow us to further increase our capacity to provide integrated mental health support.
FourPoints Health
7,185 visits
2,556 Adults
Type of visit
Patients
512 Children / Adolescents
51 Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
143 Agricultural Workers
FourPoints Health
157 North Reservation Drive Kanosh, UT 84637
FourPoints Health
440 South Main Street Richfield, UT 84701
LaTosha Mayo Health Director Richard Persons, PA-C Clinical Director
FourPoints' Health Director Recognized at the One Utah Summit
In October, FourPoints Health Director LaTosha Mayo received the Transformational Leadership Award at the One Utah Summit. LaTosha said she was grateful for the award and humbled by the experience.
“It is an assurance of the engagement, partnerships, and relationships that we are starting to build between our communities and us as a clinic and as a tribe,” she said, adding that it feels validating having a “place at the table” and that the award acknowledges the clinics’ presence in their respective communities.
The awards ceremony speaker, John Michael Fabrizi, described the five traits of a good leader: they are driven by the success of others, know themselves truthfully, control their ego and emotions, create a safe environment, and have a clear vision.
LaTosha has taught emotional intelligence courses and emphasizes the importance of controlling your ego with her supervisors.
“It's important to know yourself and how you react,” she said. “A great supervisor is someone who is self-aware.” As a leader, LaTosha holds herself to the same standards and expectations that she asks of her supervisors.
“I can see the potential in others, even if they sometimes can’t see it themselves, and I tell them not only what they’re great at already but also other areas where they may be successful,” she said. “And if they are interested, I offer myself as a resource to guide them through the process.”
At the end of 2023, FourPoints Health and the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah were joined by Rear Admiral Michael D. Weahkee with Indian Health Services and other local dignitaries for the ribbon-cutting of the new FourPoints Health Cedar City clinic.
New Clinic Provides More Opportunities to Serve
This new standalone health facility more than tripled the previous clinic space, offering 20 medical exam rooms, eight dental exam rooms, and eight behavioral health exam rooms.
This growth allowed FourPoints to expand our offerings by adding another dentist and more dental hygienists and assistants. “The need is definitely there,” LaTosha said, adding that there are limited dental clinics in Cedar City that take Medicare or Medicaid. “As a result, a lot of people will just go without dental care rather than jumping through the extensive hoops to be seen. We want to help these people before it becomes a dental emergency.”
FourPoints patients describe the new clinic as “amazing,” “beautiful,” “comfortable,” and even “off the chain.”
LaTosha said the clinic will open a pharmacy in 2025 and begin the process to offer optometry services.
Fourth Street Clinic
23,315
5,545 Adults
Type of visit
Patients by payer
355 Children / Adolescents
5,612 Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
Fourth Street Clinic
409 West 400 South Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Fourth Street Mobile Medical Clinic Serving at community partner sites Salt Lake Valley
Fourth Street Medicine Team Salt Lake Valley
Janida Emerson Chief Executive Officer
Van Aston, PA-C Medical Director
A Team of Dedicated Staff Working to End Homelessness
The caring and dedicated staff at the Fourth Street Clinic work together to provide people experiencing homelessness with integrated healthcare services. We meet people who are experiencing what appear to be insurmountable challenges and give them help and hope.
Karen Shepherd, a former Fourth Street Clinic board member said, “Every person who works at Fourth Street Clinic is ready to do whatever must be done to help [their patients] and they are able to do it because they have a leader, Janida Emerson, who works beside them, not over them."
Kevin's Story
After Kevin experienced a heart attack and received a diabetes diagnosis, he faced the frightening reality of managing his diabetes while homeless. He had to get special permission to store and use his insulin while in a homeless shelter, and the high-carbohydrate meals that were served made controlling his blood sugar nearly impossible.
The caring providers and staff at Fourth Street Clinic changed everything. We provided Kevin with resources and education to help manage his diabetes. When Kevin was struggling, his therapist called to check on him even on weekends. This support and dedication helped him regain control of his health and life, and paved his pathway to stability.
Today, Kevin is stably housed, serves on the Fourth Street Clinic Consumer Advisory Board, and works as an Easterseals ambassador in our waiting room. He is giving back to the organization that stood by him during his darkest moments. His wisdom resonates with profound truth: “They say it takes a village to care for a child . . . well, I say it takes a village to keep a village.”
Jane's Story
Five years ago, Jane came to the Fourth Street Clinic the day after her release from prison, deeply traumatized and nearly unresponsive. She began working with a primary care provider, a psychiatric nurse practitioner to manage her complex medications, and a therapist—though her first therapy sessions were silent. Gradually, she started to participate, attending her medical and psychiatric appointments regularly and engaging with her providers.
Jane continued to seek care, build a trusting relationship with her providers even while she dealt with setbacks like unstable housing and substance use. Today, Jane is three months sober, in housing, and remains engaged in weekly therapy. Though her journey isn’t over, she’s regaining control of her life and her story is a testament to the lifesaving impact of our approach. Fourth Street Clinic staff work every day to help people like Jane find stability and hope.
Green River Medical Center
We Are Here to Serve
The Green River Medical Center provides residents of the community of Green River, Utah, and its surrounding communities with a full range of affordable primary and preventive health care, dental and oral health programs, behavioral health, chronic care management, pharmacy services, and urgent care interventions. We work with local emergency services providers throughout the region as well.
The need for high-quality and affordable health care services is particularly important in Green River, Utah, because it is located approximately 50 miles in any direction from a hospital or other care facility. Our staff take the responsibility of caring for the community very seriously. In addition, we can see travelers from around the world who are coming to visit Utah’s National Parks or to raft our streams.
Integrating Medical and Behavioral Health Services
Our team of medical and behavioral health providers work together to treat the patient through an integrated healthcare model. Integrated healthcare allows our providers to address both physical and behavioral needs to help patients achieve and maintain wellness.
In 2024, we were able to recruit a new full-time behavioral health provider to help us better provide integrated care to our patients. Providing integrated care helps reduce the stigma of receiving behavioral health services because these are part of the patient visit and not a separate service.
Big News in 2024!
We completed our clinic expansion in 2024, following several years of hard work planning and building out this new space. We now have three new dental operatories, a lab and work area, two additional behavioral health care rooms, and a large patient education and staff meeting space. We are very excited about the new patient education space because it will allow us to offer community education and self-improvement activities.
Planning to Meet Future Needs
In 2024, Green River Medical Center received Behavioral Health Service Expansion funding from HRSA. This funding will help us to improve upon and expand the behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment that we are able to provide to our patients. We are always working to improve the care we offer to our community!
Health West, Inc.
104,488
Health West Continues to Grow in 2024
With the addition of seven new clinics, Health West experienced a lot of growth and a lot of firsts in 2024. We’re still dedicated to providing quality, affordable, patient-centered care, and are proud to share the milestones we’ve achieved.
At the end of 2023, Health West officially took over the HRSA grant for the Bear Lake Community Health Centers. With the addition of the seven clinics formerly operated by Bear Lake, Health West now operates 18 clinics in Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming. This acquisition required us to hire lots of new staff, transition over existing contracts, merge accounting and financial systems of the two organizations, credential and privilege clinical staff, and so much more. It’s been a long process and required the collective effort of everyone on the Health West team.
“Everyone on our team has worked incredibly hard to make this day a reality,” said Health West Chief Executive Officer Mindy Benedetti. “We’re excited that our hard work has paid off and we’re able to provide healthcare to these communities.”
With the addition of 16,000 patients, Health West needed more staff and now employs more than 350 people. Many of the new clinics also had in-house pharmacies, which was new to Health West. But the team took on this new challenge enthusiastically and not only embraced the service but expanded on it.
In June, Health West held a ribbon cutting event to celebrate the opening of our first in-house pharmacy in Idaho. Located in Chubbuck, Idaho, the pharmacy quickly gained traction and has been a valuable resource for Health West patients. Since then, Health West announced we will be opening a second pharmacy at our Pocatello, ID location. The announcement has generated a lot of excitement among the staff and within the community.
“We’ve learned that a team approach to healthcare improves patient outcomes, and that includes pharmacists,” said Benedetti. “We are thrilled that we can offer this service to our communities.”
In addition to the new pharmacy, Health West has other projects in the works for future growth. We are working with Idaho State University to expand our medical residency program and have begun having dental residents rotate through our dental clinic in Pocatello. We are also expanding our in-school behavioral health partnership with the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District by adding two more schools where the service will be provided. This will bring the total schools with Health West behavioral health providers to 13.
Health West had a very busy 2024. We are now looking forward to what’s in store for 2025 and how we will find more ways to provide quality, affordable healthcare to the communities we serve.
Midtown Community Health Center
Type of visit
Patients
1,006 Individuals Experiencing Homelessness 6,258 Children / Adolescents 17,495 Adults 490 Agricultural Workers
Tiffanie
Midtown's Mission Statement: Opening doors to a healthier community through compassionate, affordable, quality care.
Comprehensive Integrated Behavioral and
Primary Health Care
Midtown meets the diverse health needs of our patients by providing one-stop comprehensive primary care in an integrated model. This approach allows individuals to access primary medical care and timely behavioral health interventions in one integrated visit, ensuring that patients get the care they need, when they need it. Patients who receive behavioral health interventions through Midtown’s integrated model are more likely to follow up with initial behavioral health visits than patients not receiving this service. Patients are better able to manage their well-being holistically when we address their physical and mental health needs along with their social determinants of health.
Midtown will soon be able to expand access to SUD and MOUD services through Behavioral Health Service Expansion funding from HRSA. Adding new medical clinicians and case management services will allow us to connect more than 3,000 individuals to this care. By incorporating SUD and MOUD services into our continuum of care, Midtown further reduces barriers to care, fosters continuity, and builds a strong support system, empowering individuals to lead healthier, more stable lives with all the resources they need in one accessible place.
As part of our continuum of care, Midtown’s Hope Clinic, co-located with the Lantern House Homeless Shelter, provides individuals experiencing homelessness with primary, behavioral and oral health services, as well as case management and pharmacy services.
Partnerships
Partnerships are the heart of Midtown’s mission, amplifying our impact through shared resources, knowledge, and passion. By collaborating with higher education, local community organizations, and community leaders, we can meet the complex challenges facing our community in ways that no single entity could achieve. Midtown partners with the McKay-Dee Family Residency Program to provide obstetrics and delivery services, providing care to over 500 women annually and delivering over 400 newborns each year. Midtown also partners with Weber State University, providing clinical rotations for the dental hygiene program. These students provide nearly 300 supervised dental hygiene visits each year. Partnerships help us extend our reach and combine our expertise and resources to create a powerful network of support and build a stronger, more resilient community for everyone.
Midtown works within the community to develop meaningful connections with patients and partners. In 2024, Midtown participated in over 35 community events including health fairs, resource events, back to school nights, and community immunization clinics. Midtown also hosts events including its “Pap & Pamper” day to focus on preventive screening for women’s health. Midtown hosts an annual Picnic in the Park for Ogden’s unhoused community. At Midtown, we are committed to fostering community, building connections, and uplifting those who need it most.
Mountainlands Family Health Center
55,307
17,718 Adults
Type of visit
3,266 Children / Adolescents
815 Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
195 Agricultural Workers East Bay
Center 299 East 900 South, Suite 101 Provo, UT 84606
Mountainlands Family Health Center 589 South State Street Provo, UT 84606
Mountainlands Family Health CenterPayson 285 North 1250 East, Suite 103 Payson, UT 84651
Mountainlands
Health CenterVernal Dental 133 South 500 East Vernal, UT 84078
Mountainlands Family Health CenterVernal 1680 West Highway 40, Suite 201 Vernal, UT 84078
A Commitment to Healthy Moms and Babies
The efforts of Mountainlands’ OB team have helped reduce the incidence of low- and very-low birthweight infants. The team meets weekly to review the care of our high-risk prenatal patients and identify patients needing additional monitoring. The team works closely with Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists at Utah Valley Hospital to ensure that high-risk patients receive comprehensive care, including appropriate counseling and timely delivery at the optimal gestational age. This collaborative approach promotes better delivery outcomes. To further support better outcomes for Moms and Babies, Mountainlands is committed to addressing their social determinants of health (SDOH), including assisting them with access to good nutrition and prenatal care.
Saving a Life at the West Park Clinic Dental Staff Helping an Anxious Patient
On a busy afternoon, two medical assistants at the West Park Clinic heard a woman calling for help from the restroom, stating that she believed her partner was overdosing.
Immediately, one of the assistants grabbed a Narcan kit and the two went to the restroom where they found an unresponsive individual. They gave a first dose of Narcan with no response. A police officer then arrived at the scene and handed a medical assistant another dose of Narcan to administer. After receiving the second dose, this individual regained consciousness, received necessary medical care, and survived.
Wasatch Behavioral Health staff expressed their gratitude for the medical assistants' prompt actions and professionalism in saving one of their patients.
Outside the Clinic Doors: Mountainlands' Annual Health Fair
In July 2024, a patient came to the Provo dental clinic with tooth pain. A comprehensive examination revealed that she had several large cavities, and that two of her teeth would require root canals.
The patient had put off seeing the dentist even though her teeth hurt out of fear of receiving dental care and she was very anxious about needing such extensive dental work. To ease her concerns and encourage her to return for treatment, the dental team took extra time to explain the root canal procedure and how her pain would be managed. During her appointments, she received nitrous oxide to help her relax and remain calm throughout the procedures.
Had she not received this essential dental care, her ability to chew would have been severely compromised and it is likely that at least two of her teeth would have had to be extracted. The dental team also helped her become more comfortable in seeking dental care in the future.
During Mountainlands’ Annual Community Health Fair in August 2024, the organization distributed 300 backpacks filled with essential school supplies to patients and other community members. The Fair also hosted 17 community organizations and vendors to provide attendees with access to important services and information.
Utah Navajo Health System
91,496 visits
10,333 Adults
Type of visit
Patients by payer type
4,042 Children / Adolescents
14,375 patients served Locations
Blanding Family Practice Community Health Center + Dental 910 South 300 West Blanding, UT 84511
Montezuma Creek Community Health Center 1478 East Highway 162 Montezuma Creek, UT 84534
Monument Valley Community Health Center 30 West Medical Drive Monument Valley, UT 84536
Navajo Mountain Community Health Center #2 Rainbow Road Navajo Mountain, UT 86044
San Juan Family Dental 217 South 100 West Monticello, UT 84535
The Wood Project
NIH Grant to Support Community-Prioritized
Research
Utah Navajo Health System received our first National Institutes of Health grant in 2024. The grant will allow UNHS to support community-prioritized research that elevates and integrates Indigenous knowledge and culture. This will facilitate the creation of sustainable, culturally appropriate strategies to improve health outcomes for the Navajo population and the underserved. An additional benefit of this research will be to improve the availability and quality of clinical data to inform local decision-making and promote health equity.
Approximately 66% of Navajo households (around 29,000 homes), rely primarily on wood or coal for heating. In rural areas, nearly 90% of households use wood and/or coal as their main heating source. These homes often lack access to alternative heating options such as natural gas or propane.
To provide Navajo households with wood for heating, UNHS collaborated with the U.S. Forest Service on the “Wood for Life” program using trees that were harvested to thin out densely forested areas and reduce the risk of major forest fires.
In 2024, UNHS cut, split and delivered over 900 truckloads of wood from trees generously provided from a National Forest in Colorado. The wood program has allowed UNHS to provide heat to our most vulnerable populations, including the aged and chronically ill, so they can remain warm during the cold winter months.
Addressing Housing Shortages and Lack of Access to Healthy Food
In response to the housing shortage in San Juan County and the Navajo Nation, UNHS is developing multi-plex housing units (twelve in each of the three towns: Montezuma Creek, Monument Valley and Blanding) to provide affordable and quality living spaces for healthcare workers in San Juan County.
Much of the Navajo Nation, spanning over 27,000 square miles across Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, is classified as a food desert. With a population exceeding 170,000, the entire reservation is served by only 14 full-service grocery stores. To combat the food desert in Montezuma Creek, UNHS is planning to build and operate a full-service grocery store that will offer residents convenient and affordable access to fresh and nutritious food options, thereby enhancing food security and promoting healthier lifestyles.
Creating More Access with a New Clinc
UNHS is constructing a new clinic in Navajo Mountain, known as Naatsis'áán in Navajo. This community is among the most isolated in Utah, with approximately 450 residents. Despite being only about 35 air miles from Monument Valley, the journey by road spans approximately 110 miles, requiring travel through Arizona before looping back into Utah.
This new facility will provide comprehensive medical, dental, and behavioral health services, ensuring that residents can access essential healthcare without the need to travel long distances.
Utah Partners for Health
Type of visit
Patients by payer type
19,191
7,529 patients served
5,673 Adults
1,856 Children / Adolescents
126 Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
UPFH Mid-Valley Clinic
8446 South Harrison Street Midvale, UT 84047
UPFH Dental 7651 South Main Street Midvale, UT 84047
UPFH Family Clinic & Pharmacy - West Jordan
9103 South 1300 West, Suite 102 West Jordan, UT 84088
UPFH Mobile Medical Clinic
Salt Lake County & Tooele County
UPFH Mobile Vision Clinic
Salt Lake County & Tooele County
Veronica Hobby Chief Executive Officer
Tony Gregory, PA-C Medical Director
Increased Access to Substance Use Disorder and Medication-Assisted Treatment (SUD/MAT)
In 2024, Utah Partners for Health received grant funding from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Overdose Data to Action project to allow us to greatly expand access to SUD/MAT treatment. Our program has grown significantly since its beginning, demonstrating unmet need in the community and giving our patients hope for a brighter future.
To reduce public misconceptions about SUDs, Utah Partners for Health promoted the message that recovery is possible. Every new patient represents a step forward in creating a network of recovery and support to strengthen individuals, families, and the community. Staff work to ensure that no one feels alone in their journey to recovery.
Big Changes in 2024! Patient Voices Matter!
Utah Partners for Health introduced our new CEO, Veronica Hobby, in 2024. She brought with her a vision of growth, change, and improvement. While change can be intimidating, staff persevered while working towards new goals and continue to move forward with a positive vision.
Utah Partners for Health patients are the best ambassadors for our organization. Here are some comments from patients about their care:
“These people GENUINELY care about you. All the providers and staff who are part of the MAT program are the absolute best. EVERYONE employed here is great. I don't know how they did it.”
“From the moment I walked in the front desk ladies were very polite and courteous. The provider and nurse were amazing and went above and beyond! Thank you! I love this place and I would recommend anyone and everyone to come here.”
“It’s a friendly, organized, clean, peaceful, professional, nice, punctual clinic!!”
Utah Partners for Health takes pride in being everyone’s first option for healthcare. Patients who choose to visit one of our clinics will receive high quality, consistent, attentive service every time they walk through the doors.
Wayne Community Health Center
20,003
Bicknell Clinic 128 South 300 West Bicknell, UT 84715
Escalante Dental 65 North Center Street
Escalante, UT 84726
Hanksville Clinic 30 South Highway 95 Hanksville, UT 84734 Kazan Memorial Clinic 570 East Moqui
Donavan Smith
Abbott, DO Medical Director
Convenient and Affordable Pharmacy Services
Wayne Community Health Center (WCHC) offers comprehensive pharmacy services at its Bicknell and Escalante locations. WCHC also oversees a remote dispensing pharmacy at the Green River Medical Center, ensuring that Green River’s patients have access to pharmacy services without needing to travel long distances.
WCHC offers individualized pre-sorted medication packaging free of charge. The system can accommodate up to 20 different medications taken at up to four times a day. This makes it easier for patients to follow their medication regimens and is especially helpful for patients with complex medication schedules.
One example of WCHC’s commitment to personalized care occurred when a patient with limited literacy visited the pharmacy. The patient needed to manage his medications correctly without relying on written instructions. WCHC pharmacy staff developed a visual medication guide for him that included pictures of his drugs and images showing when to take them. This guide allowed the patient to properly take his medications on time and revealed a significant issue—he had unknowingly been skipping one of his medications. Allowing this patient to take all his medications properly improved his health outcomes.
A Committed Medical Team
One of our medical assistants went above and beyond to get a patient critical cardiology care, ultimately saving his life. He was being seen for heart palpitations and was scheduled to see cardiology in a few weeks. When the provider requested that we get him in sooner, our medical assistant called different providers and waited on hold to get someone to see him sooner. The cardiologist found that the patient had an almost complete occlusion of one of the arteries in his heart. The medical assistant’s tenacity helped prevent this patient from having a heart attack in our rural community, which may have resulted in a much worse outcome for him.
Dental Department Patient Success
The WCHC dental team is committed to providing our community with access to cutting edge dental treatment without geographical or financial barriers.
A patient came to us saying, “I have had dentures for 15 years. I cannot function with them anymore… I am losing weight due to my inability to eat food. Is there anything that you can do to help me?” We reviewed the patient’s condition and discussed risks, benefits and alternatives with the patient. The patient chose a procedure involving dental surgery and new dentures. After receiving successful treatment the patient noted, “I am eating better now than I have in a long time.”
Association for Utah Community Health
The Association for Utah Community Health (AUCH) represents and supports Utah’s Community Health Centers through collaboration, advocacy, and financially sustainable practices to ensure access to high-quality integrative healthcare services.
AUCH has served as Utah’s federally designated Primary Care Association since 1985, providing more than 15,000 hours of training and technical assistance to Utah’s health centers and affiliate members each year. AUCH also operates a Health Center Controlled Network to help health centers leverage health information technology to improve access to care, enhance quality of care, and achieve cost efficiencies.
AUCH receives federal, state, and private program support to improve the quality of and access to comprehensive health care services.
To learn more about AUCH, visit www.auch.org.
