Saturday, July 31, 2004 Marked The Grand Opening Of The Fourth David Raines Community Health Center (DRCHC) In North Louisiana

The new center is located at 1953 East Main Street in Haynesville. The other three centers are located in Gilliam, Shreveport and Minden.

Mayor of Haynesville Mickey Mayfield presided over the Grand Opening ceremony held at the new location of the clinic. Claiborne Chamber of Commerce member Gurvis Vines led the prayer blessing the business and services that would be provided to future patients of the center.

President of the Board of Directors for DRCHC Annie Pearl Wilson welcomed everyone to the event. Former Mayor of the Town of Haynesville Tom Crocker said, “I am proud to see that the clinic is finally open. Years of hard work and efforts have paid off and I am glad that I was a part of this effort.”

William Maddox, member of the Board of Directors, thanked everyone for their hard work and welcomed them to the ceremony. President of the Claiborne Chamber of Commerce, J.T. Taylor said, “I would like to take the time to thank everyone for coming out for this event. It is our pleasure to welcome this establishment to the Town. Facilities like this one are vital to our community and we wish them well with their future in Claiborne Parish.”

DRCHC is an independent, community owned nonprofit health facility. The center strives to provide quality, affordable, primary and preventative service to all comers regardless of race, national origin or ability to pay.

All of David Raines Centers medical staff members are professionally trained and board certified in their field of study. The philosophy of DRCHC is to offer total health care for the whole family. Family health services, dental services and optometry services are offered to participants. DRCHC is a part of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). This accreditation implies that the DRCHC is nationally recognized for complying with rigorous national performance standards that promote quality health care. DRCHC is also a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). This states that the facilities qualify for nationally competitive grants that are funded under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act.

As a FQHC, David Raines is mandated to provide a medical home to all patients. This would include insured, uninsured, underinsured as well as the underserved in the area. David Raines Centers are approved Medicaid application locations. Families that are at or below poverty level would qualify for Medicaid and may apply at the centers. DRCHC is a KIDMED approved facility. The KIDMED program provides medical, vision and hearing screenings for low-income families, Medicaid-eligible children and youth up to the age of 21.

The facility recognizes LaMOMS and WIC. LaMOMS is no-cost health coverage for pregnant women who qualify. Participants who have private insurance are capable of utilizing this program. The private insurance carrier would pay first then Medicaid would pay up to the maximum limit of the unpaid balance. WIC is a special nutritional program for women, infants and children that provides a food package and nutritional education to participants.

These are just a few of the programs that DRCHC accepts and provides to its patients. If patients have any questions about these programs or wish to apply there will be someone at the clinic that will help them with the information.

For those who do not have transportation, DRCHC offers free transportation to the center for services. Their vans are wheel chair and handicap accessible. Transportation arrangements must be made at least two days in advance.