Saturday, April 5, 2025
4/5/2025
Congressionally Directed Spending for Construction Projects - Lawndale Christian Health Center (LCHC) seeks to construct a Teaching Health Center (THC) on its main campus along Ogden Ave, to house its growing Family Medicine Residency program, other health professional trainings, and expanding senior and optometry clinics. At 35,000 sq ft and 35 exam rooms, the THC will have ample space for education and clinic services where future physicians can learn at a community-based health center in a medically underserved area. As a community-based health center, LCHC offers a full spectrum of affordable, high-quality primary health care services accessible to low-income patients primarily in Lawndale and Garfield Park. Founded in 1984 by a small group of Lawndale residents, LCHC has worked to improve and grow its model of care to ensure community access for 35 years. Area primary care services are scarce or available in a limited capacity, resulting in an inadequate provider-to-patient ratio. 130 LCHC medical providers work across a spectrum of specialties including family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, internal medicine, and others, along with staff supporting laboratory, radiology, pharmacy, dentistry, optometry, behavioral health, substance use, and health support services for targeted populations including Healthcare for the Homeless. In Fiscal Year 2022 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and variants, LCHC provided care for 53,331 unique patients through 174,193 medical visits, 10,572 behavioral health visits, 14,898 dental visits, and 4,498 optometry visits. Approximately 1/4 of visits are offered to uninsured patients. With ACGME accreditation and a HRSA funded Family Medicine Residency, LCHC already operates a successful program. However, LCHC will grow its program over the coming years to eventually have three classes of eight residents each, for a total of 24 medical residents training at LCHC at any given time, requiring increased space for quality learning. Likewise, LCHC already has a Senior Clinic as well as a recently constructed Senior Center with adjacent exam rooms for its Adult Day Services program. However, as a Program for All Inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE) awardee, LCHC needs increased clinic space for the successful implementation of these services. The THC is a multipurpose construction providing: an opportunity for community employment and career growth, increased accessibility to health services, and the ability for seniors to age in place. As a leader in Chicago’s safety net healthcare community, LCHC has been certified as an FQHC for over 25 years, is PCMH and TJC certified, and has received multiple HRSA awards for growth and quality of care. LCHC has demonstrated stability and capacity as a partner for the Department of Health and Human Services and will construct a development to ultimately increase the number of providers equipped to serve in a community-based health center, and provide clear career pathways for groups historically underrepresented in medicine.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).