Yvonne Brown, Outreach Coordinator and Community Health Worker from the Peninsula Community Health Services (PCHS) was the engaging and informative guest speaker at the Wednesday, 8 January, noon meeting of the Rotary Club of Kingston North Kitsap.
PCHS is a community-based, nonprofit community health center dedicated to providing accessible, affordable, quality health and wellness services for communities in Kitsap and Mason counties. They have medical and/or dental clinics in Belfair, Bremerton, Kingston, Port Orchard, Poulsbo, and Shelton Most medical sites include a convenient onsite pharmacy. They are a certified team of providers and specialists whose main goal is to provide the kind of comprehensive affordable health care that keeps people healthy.
PCHS was founded in 1987 as a community clinic in downtown Bremerton and became a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in 1993. PCHS health services include primary medical, dental, behavioral health counseling, substance abuse treatment, pharmacy services, and health education and promotion activities for all stages of life. Services are provided to all patients regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. PCHS patients may qualify for a sliding fee discount based on their household income and family size. PCHS delivers a comprehensive and integrated approach to health care services and is an accredited Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) by AAAHC. The guiding principle of PCHS is to “see and value every person.” Their Vision is to eliminate healthcare disparities in our communities while adhering to our values of being “Patient-Driven, Respectful and Empathetic”.
Yvonne says that the health care field can be difficult to navigate. Her role as a Community Health Worker is to be a patient advocate and close the gap on health disparities. She works closely with the community to connect individuals to different resources and overcome barriers they may face. While working closely with individuals in the community, she also “care coordinates” to ensure continuity for the organizations PCHS partners with and their patients. As a Service Manager, she has two major focuses: The first is producing amazing customer service and anticipating the needs of PCHS’s customers; the second is ensuring amazing team member engagement and assisting individuals with goals for self-development.
For more information about this valuable asset in our community, check out their website at: https://www.pchsweb.org/ or check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Peninsula-Community-Health-Services-PCHS-112827965430424/