Courtesy of Christ Community Health Services
For Sheeba, Christ Community Health Services is a godsend. She is a missionary to Sri Lanka but is visiting friends in Memphis. During her stay, her daughter Sheena became very sick. With no health insurance in a foreign city, Sheeba was relieved to learn about Christ Community Health Services (CCHS), whose board-certified pediatrician saw her daughter that day for diagnosis and treatment.
“Since we are missionaries, medical [care] is [usually] too much, and we cannot afford it,” Sheeba explains. “The Christ Community doctor really helped Sheena, and she is now doing well.”
Another mother also found herself in need. Jennifer was new to town and didn’t have health insurance yet. But her daughter needed vaccinations to attend school. A Christ Community doctor saw her daughter for a well-child visit and administered her shots so she could attend school right away.
Many in Memphis share Sheena’s and Jennifer’s dilemmas. Thankfully, they have a place to go. For more than 20 years, Christ Community Health Services has been providing high quality healthcare for those with and without health insurance in Memphis, with a particular focus on the underserved.
History
Four physicians who made a pact to go where the need was the greatest founded CCHS. At that time, Memphis had the highest infant mortality rate and the most deaths from chronic medical conditions due to a lack of access to medical care, Dr. Steve Sittnick, chief medical officer of CCHS, says. Now, 20 years later, CCHS has a patient base of more than 50,000, 92 percent of whom are below the poverty level.
Courtesy of Christ Community Health Services
Serving in Strategic Locations
With strategic locations in Memphis, including Third Street, Frayser, Hickory Hill, Broad Avenue, Orange Mound, and Raleigh, Christ Community is the largest primary care provider in Shelby County, and one of the largest faith-based, federally qualified health centers in the nation. CCHS boasts six medical centers, five dental centers, five pharmacies, one women’s health center, and one mobile van clinic to care for the homeless.
While most patients have TennCare or are uninsured, Christ Community accepts private insurance, too. Dr. Sittnick adds, “We serve not only the underserved but everyone in the community.”
High-quality Healthcare
Sittnick says CCHS recognizes that employing qualified, motivated, and dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff who feel called by God to be there is key to delivering high-quality healthcare. “We have board-certified physicians who uphold the highest standards in the industry,” he says. “The type of care we offer is not just acute care. We are introducing the concept that ‘this is your long-term medical care center and where you get preventative care.’ A doctor pairs up with the patient and does his healthcare coaching. Our patients deserve that.”
Dedicated Women’s Health Center
The Women’s Health Center is a clinic dedicated to the health needs of women. In addition to annual exams, the center offers birth control options, cervical cancer screenings, and some in-office procedures. They also partner with Baptist Hospital to offer mammograms and with Methodist Hospital to provide gynecological surgeries. “By being a pay-scale provider, we are able to serve a wide variety of patients, from young pregnant women to older ladies who need hysterectomies,” says Dr. Katherine Liu, obstetrician/gynecologist at the Women’s Health Center. “We provide a niche in Memphis.”
Specialist Care
CCHS also has specialists on staff to address a range of health conditions. They employ a board-certified allergist and asthma specialist, as well as a developmental behavioral pediatrician who is trained in ADHD, learning disabilities, autism spectrum, and other issues that can hinder development and learning. Amber, whose 6-month-old son Tyson struggles with asthma, appreciates this specialized care: “I like it because they know what’s going on,” she says. Dr. Sittnick notes, “Our patients appreciate when we go the extra mile to bring in specialists.”
Breaking the Language Barrier
Hispanic patients, as well as refugee populations from places like Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, and the Congo, account for a significant number of visitors to CCHS. As a result, many patients don’t speak English. For this reason, CCHS employs two physicians fluent in Spanish at the Hickory Hill and Frayser locations, and a nurse practitioner at the Broad Avenue location speaks Arabic, Spanish, and French. Interpreters on staff help bridge the language barrier and make use of a language telephone hotline for other foreign languages such as Swahili.
Caring for Body and Soul
As a Christian organization, CCHS recognizes physical health is part of the whole person. In addition to caring for the body, they offer spiritual counseling, Bible studies, and prayer for their patients.
To learn more about CCHS or to partner with them, visit them at christcommunityhealth.org.