The Community Health Center Program
Community Health Centers have over a 40 year history in the United States. This history begins with the creation of the Migrant Health Center program which started as a result of the Migrant Health Act, signed in 1962. Migrant Health Centers were established to provide comprehensive primary health care services to migrant and seasonal agricultural workers and their families, including former migratory agricultural workers whose primary employment is no longer in agriculture because of age or disability.
Later, in 1965, neighborhood health center demonstration projects were initiated and subsequently funded by Congress as part of the War on Poverty. By the early 1970s, approximately 100 neighborhood health centers had been established throughout the United States under the Economic Opportunity Act. These health centers were designed to provide accessible, dignified, personal health services to low-income families. Community participation in the organization and a patient-majority governing board were primary features of the Health Center model.
When the Office of Economic Opportunity was eliminated, oversight of the health centers was transferred to the Public Health Service. Additionally, the centers were mandated to broaden their scope so that comprehensive primary and preventive services were provided to all who came through the doors, not just low-income individuals. In 1975, the Community Health Center Program was established as authorized, under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act and continues to remain under this Act.
Project Health
Project Health, Inc. (PHI) was formed in 1974 primarily to address the health care needs of the agricultural workers in and around Sumter County. These workers, who made up a large majority of Sumter County, could not afford private physician care and therefore often went without much needed medical care.
In 1976, PHI received funding under the Migrant Health Center and Community Health Center Program. Medical services began that same year in a mobile unit located on an acre of land in Sumterville. By 1980, a total of 4 modular offices were in place and in 1981, dental services were added. The center utilized the services of physicians and dentists provided through the National Health Service Corps. In 1987, the Pharmacy Department was started and in 1992, the Urgent Care Department opened as a means to serve patients without appointments and those with acute illnesses and/or injuries.
The growth over the years led to the need for more space. A second building was constructed in 1994 to house Administration, the Pharmacy, and the Dental Department. A Pediatrics Department was also added at this time and took over the space left by Pharmacy.
Thomas E. Langley, MD was named Executive Director of PHI in 1985. He was a physician employed with PHI and was always involved in community efforts to help the poor and devoted his life to it. He was instrumental in planning and developing the then-new prefabricated medical building but never got to see it to completion; Dr. Langley passed away in 1987 and the new building was completed in 1988. The new building was dedicated in his memory and in 1994, the building was renamed the Thomas E. Langley Medical Center.
In the fall of 2006, PHI realized a much anticipated dream: the opening of a brand-new 41,000+ square foot medical facility. The new facility has allowed for all clinical services to be provided under one roof. Prior to the new building, as many of our patients remember, modular buildings and trailers kept being added as more space was needed or when new services were added. Now with all departments in one building, our patients have an easier time accessing all of their services. Services provided at TELMC include: Adult Medicine, Geriatrics, Pediatrics, Podiatry, Urgent Care, Behavioral Health, Dental, Radiology, Pharmacy, and Lab. In addition, TELMC administers the Sumter County Healthy Start Program which aims to reduce negative infant health outcomes through outreach and education. Through a contractual agreement, we provide Dermatology services by leasing the space for a dermatologist to come onsite once a month.
Another dream was made a reality for PHI in 2008 when Family Medical Center at the Shores (FMC) opened in the Silver Springs Shores area near Ocala in Marion County. For many years, the Board of Directors of PHI had considered opening another location and was recently in a position to do so. The services currently offered at FMC are Pediatrics and Adult Medicine. PHI hopes to be able to expand this site as time goes on so that one day, FMC will be as comprehensive as TELMC is in Sumter County.
Both sites are committed to serving all patients that come through our doors in a culturally and linguistically competent manner and with dignity and respect. Our staff speaks English and Spanish and will accommodate any other languages to the best of our abilities.
