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Primary Care Office

The Primary Care Office (PCO) serves to improve access to primary health care for the medically underserved areas and populations. The PCO is funded through an annual grant by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The PCO works to enhance access to quality preventative health care for the people of Washington State with a focus on the underserved. Through outreach and partnerships the PCO works to identify and reduce barriers to primary health care.   Update (October 2011): The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded a total $1,950,000 in Affordable Care Act funds to 4 community health centers in our state. Funds will be used to establish new health service delivery sites by increasing access in underserved communities and for vulnerable populations. The access point grantees are: Seattle-King County Public Health Department (Seattle, WA) Columbia Valley Community Health (Wenatchee, WA) Columbia Basin Health Association (Othello, WA) Community Health of Central Washington (Yakima, WA) Also, Affordable Care Act funds of over $150,000 were awarded for health center planning in our state. The Health Center Planning Grant opportunities were given to Family Practice of Spokane (Spokane, WA) and PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center (Vancouver, WA) to support the future development of a health center.   To learn more about community health centers visit the HRSA web page on Health Center Week.   PCO services and activities include: Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)  Designation Overview Provider Placement Programs J-1 Visa Waiver Program National Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNet) - external site Washington Recruitment Group (WRG) Eligibility assistance for National Health Services Corps - external site  Application assistance to Federally Qualified Health Center grants Represent Washington State for HRSA activities Consult on Community Planning Resources for providers, county health departments, and other groups State Health Provider Profile for Primary Care Advocate for resources that promote and enhance access for medically underserved populations For more information:   Sam Watson-Alvαn Director, Primary Care Office Office of Community Health Systems   Phone: (360) 236-2812 Sam.Watson-Alvan@doh.wa.gov

Additional resources for primary health: HPSA and /MUA/P Designations Health Care Access and Research Federally Qualified Health Centers/Community Health Centers Federally Qualified Health Center Fact Sheet (PDF, 292 KB) Washington Association of Community & Migrant Health Centers (WACMHC) - external site Washington Free Clinic Association - external site HRSA Data Warehouse for Data & Statistics by state - external site

 

 

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