ST. LOUIS — Dutchtown residents in St. Louis now have easier access to health care as a ribbon-cutting of the new Family Care Health Centers (FCHC) location took place Thursday.
At the corner of south Grand and Chippewa, the 27,000-square-foot facility offers pediatrics, geriatrics and women’s health, behavioral health, nutrition, including a special supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC, and pharmaceutical services.
“We want to see folks who truly need us and even just for folks who are well because part of our work is preventative care,” said Aramide Ayorinde, CEO of Family Care Health Centers.
The new facility is close to public transportation, making health care more accessible to Dutchtown residents who do not have a car. Regardless of one’s ability to pay, residents will still receive services under a sliding pay scale, according to Ayorinde.
Patients also can receive help with diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, mental health and other chronic conditions.
“We don’t always want to see folks when they’re truly ill and almost where we’re in repair mode,” Ayorinde said. “We want to see folks when they’re healthy and see keep them along that healthy journey.”
FCHC has open positions at the new location such as doctors, nurses, medical assistants, clinicians, front desk and security.
At Thursday’s event, St. Louis City, County and FCHC leaders spoke to the community and health care workers. The ribbon ceremony was followed by a luncheon and tours of the new facility.
“We are ready to care for folks,” Ayorinde said. “We have a great team of folks who are dedicated to providing care and really meeting people where they are.”
FCHC has two other health care facilities open to the public, including Carondelet and Forest Park.