A New Twist on Building Healthy Communities

One of Primary Health Care's first patients. She has no insurance and comes in for a yearly physical. The clinic helped her to obtain social security benefits and other resources.

Primary Health Care Outreach is an organization that plays an important role in Des Moines health care and the lives of many citizens in the community. They provide medical services, emergency housing and information, referrals and advocacy. Their goal is to connect those in need of medical care to the needed service, as well as empowering patients in becoming part of the network and connecting with a regular provider. Using their case management and referral services, they can turn a client's life around. Their staff work with different agencies throughout the community to help clients find housing, employment, and other services. With funds received from HUD's CDBG and Continuum of Care grants, they have provided the community with much more than just health care.

Primary Health Care's medical services cover all the basics. They provide family practice, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, internal medicine, immunization, HIV treatment, and treatment for chronic illnesses. They also offer comprehensive dental care, affordable medications and much more. They have more than eight clinics open at various sites and open at various times throughout the city of Des Moines and Marshalltown, Iowa. Primary Health Care started in 1981 and continues today with a staff of 30 full or part-time individuals. Their staff have a commitment to health going beyond the basics; they do what it takes to provide the best overall care for the client and their family.