Bluegrass Community Health Center is Bridging the Gap

STORY BY AMANDA HARPER / PHOTOS COURTESY OF BCHC

While access to healthcare has improved dramatically over the last decade, there are still people who fall through the cracks of our healthcare system. Many families face insurmountable hurdles in getting the care they need. Fortunately, one local group is lending those families a helping hand and qualified, supportive care.

Bluegrass Community Health Center (BCHC) provides comprehensive healthcare in our community with outreach programs designed to aid underserved populations. Established in 2001 with a federal grant to serve local migrant farmworkers, their services have expanded to serve people experiencing homelessness and other people in need. They promote “better health, better life” by offering care and respect for all people in our area.

According to a recent US Census report, 26 million adults in the US are uninsured. BCHC serves over 8,000 patients in an eight-county area of service: Fayette, Woodford, Jessamine, Garrard, Madison, Clark, Bourbon and Scott Counties. They welcome patients with Medicaid, Medicare and commercial insurance. For uninsured patients, they offer sliding-scale fees based on client income and household size. They ensure no one is denied access to services due to inability to pay.

In about 1 in 5 US households, a language other than English is primarily spoken at home. Though over 350 unique languages are spoken in the US, Spanish is by far the most common non-English language spoken in American homes. According to the National Institute of Health, Hispanic people struggle most with access to care across a number of measures, with language barriers among them. BCHC employs bilingual staff who help bridge this gap. They also utilize language line interpretation to ensure that all patients have access to clinic services in any language.

Another major barrier to healthcare that many households in our region face is the distance to providers and lack of transportation to get there. BCHC brings care to the communities that need it through a mobile primary care clinic that stops by Lexington Pride Center, Lexington Rescue Mission, local churches and more throughout the month; check the BCHC website for locations and dates.

BCHC utilizes an Integrated Care Model. This means behavioral health services are offered alongside primary care. From lifestyle support for chronic disease management to counseling for mental health needs, BCHC providers evaluate the mind-body-behavior connection and provide brief, solution-focused interventions. This includes care for substance users. Since many of their clients are unhoused, they help connect patients with resources like temporary housing, food banks, career centers and transportation. They also connect patients with other medical and mental health services as needed, including Surgery on Sunday, Mission Lex, NAMI Lexington, Open Doors Counseling Center and KY Cancer Link.

If you are interested in learning more about Bluegrass Community Health Center, or would like to schedule an event with their primary care clinic, call 859-259-2635 or learn more at bchcky.com.