Organization awarded $186,000 grant

Lorain County Health & Dentistry, the county’s health center funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), received $186,488 in one-time funding for multiple achievements based upon its 2019 performance, according to a news release.

The funding is part of a $117 million package from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to 1,318 health centers across the United States to strengthen quality improvement activities and to expand quality primary health care service delivery.

Health & Dentistry was honored as a “National Quality Leader” for the second year in a row, ranking in the top one percent for heart health among nearly 1,400 Health Resources and Services Administration health centers nationwide, according to the release.

Health & Dentistry received this national award because of excellent clinical outcomes in 2019 in the care of patients with hypertension and heart disease, the release said.

The agency also received a Health Center Quality Leader Award, placing it in the top 20 percent of all health centers for overall quality.

In addition, Health Resources and Services Administration recognized Health & Dentistry for improving cost-efficient care delivery, reducing health disparities, increasing both the number of patients served and their ability to access comprehensive services, advancing use of health information technology and delivering patientcentered care.

“These quality improvement awards support health centers across the country in delivering care to nearly 30 million people, providing a convenient source of quality care that has grown even more important during the

COVID-19 pandemic,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “These awards help ensure that all patients who visit a Health Resources and Services Administrationfunded health center continue to receive the highest quality of care, including access to COVID-19 testing and treatment.”

Local leaders said the nonprofit health care center will use the funding to enhance their mission, the release said.

“(Lorain County Health & Dentistry) has a mission to serve those most in need and an aim to improve the community’s health and this award shows that we do this very well,” said Stephanie Wiersma, president and CEO of Health & Dentistry. “Our patients can be certain they are getting the best care possible.

“We will use the award funds to expand our quality improvement activities, possibly to enhance our data analysis and information technology, further staff education, and to develop strategies for continued improvement.”

Lorain County Health & Dentistry, a not-for-profit Community Health Center and the county’s largest safety-net provider, offers a broad range of medical, dental and behavioral health services, as well as COVID-19 testing, for the people of Lorain County, and surrounding areas.

In 2019, Health & Dentistry served 15,255 unduplicated patients in 51,255 medical and dental visits at seven health center locations in Lorain County, according to the release.

Of these patients, 94 percent had household income at or below 200 percent of federal poverty, the release said.