NHC provides healthcare services statewide

Nevada Health Centers has been providing quality healthcare services throughout Nevada since 1977 and is committed to serving individuals in need. To those who are familiar with Nevada and its vast landscape, this isn’t an easy task, but it’s one we’re privileged to pursue.

Considering Nevada’s geographic distribution of 110,561 square miles, it is no small undertaking to offer healthcare throughout such a large state. With 18 health centers and two mobile programs for dental and mammography services, Nevada Health Centers is the largest primary care provider for our state’s uninsured and/or geographically-isolated residents. Forty percent of our patients are uninsured; 40 percent have Medicaid coverage; 10 percent have Medicare coverage; and 10 percent have private insurance.

We believe everyone deserves access to quality healthcare, which we offer to patients of all ages in metropolitan Las Vegas, Henderson and Carson City as well as throughout rural Nevada in areas such as Jackpot, Wendover, Elko, Eureka, Austin, Carlin, and Crescent Valley.

Our medical providers help patients with chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart problems, and we offer physicals and sports exams, immunizations, care for illnesses like a cold or the flu, and minor procedures. Although services vary from location to location, we also provide obstetrical and gynecological care to women of all ages, pediatric care, dental care, behavioral health, and pharmacy services.

Nevada Health Centers has been growing to meet our state’s needs, and we are recruiting providers to match the demand for services. Last year we opened a school-based health center in Carson City, a health center in Virginia City, and a visiting nurse program in Lockwood to better serve these communities. Additionally, we’ve hired 10 new providers to help staff these locations, for a total number of 29 providers in northern Nevada.

In 2015 we saw 47,138 patients with a total statewide encounter number of 151,532. We provided 421 dental visits on the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile and 3,675 women received mammography screenings on the Mammovan.

When I meet with community partners and supporters, they are pleasantly surprised by Nevada Health Centers’ size and scope, as well as the high quality of the care we provide. In May 2015, we earned national recognition for patient-centered care from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). NCQA is a leading healthcare quality organization and awards a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) designation to medical providers that focus on coordinated care and long-term, participative relationships with their patients.

In December 2015, 35 Nevada-based physician practices were recognized with a HealthInsight Quality Award. The award recognizes physician practices that incorporate patient engagement tools and strategies into their care processes; use care management methods regularly; participate in a data reporting quality initiative; and achieve exemplary performance on nationally recognized quality measures related to diabetes, cancer screening, and immunizations. Thirteen Nevada Health Centers locations were included among the list of honorees.

The Mammovan travels the state, providing mobile mammography services to geographically-isolated and/or uninsured women. Women age 40 and over are the primary focus, but women under 40 who are physician-referred may also be screened. The Mammovan has many partners that make it possible to provide services to those who would otherwise be unable to afford them.

In support of the Mammovan, the Nevada Health Centers Breast Cancer Awareness license plates, available through the DMV, raised more than $134,000 for the van with 3,016 plates sold since the program’s inception. $25 from each plate sold benefits the Mammovan.

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile provides dental care to underserved children throughout the state, with the support of many community partners. Through this program we offer preventive care, fluoride treatments, restorative care, oral health education, extractions, cleanings, exams, sealants, X-rays and fillings. The program is staffed by a dentist, dental hygienist, dental assistants, and office assistants.

As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Nevada Health Centers is partially funded through federal grants; however, more than 70 percent of our funding comes from patient revenue, contracts with local and state government, and via generous contributions from individuals and organizations throughout Nevada. If you or your organization are interested in contributing to Nevada Health Centers, visit our online donation page at www.nevadahealthcenters.org/donations.

To find out more about Nevada Health Centers, please visit www.nvhealthcenters.org. To make an appointment for any of our services, call 800-787-2568.