A Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), Welsh Mountain Health Centers’ mission is to “provide quality, family-centered health services to all members of the community, especially those who encounter barriers to care.” These barriers may include transportation barriers, financial barriers, child care barriers, or other impediments to receiving care. As a FQHC, Welsh Mountain Health Centers provides comprehensive health services to the entire community, including the medically underserved, underinsured, and uninsured. FQHC’s like Welsh Mountain Health Centers are generally established in areas where there are not enough medical services catering to the underserved populations.
Welsh Mountain Health Centers was founded in 1969 as Welsh Mountain Medical Center in a one-room schoolhouse. It was originally a project of the Christian Medical Society of Lancaster County, the Visiting Nurse Association, and the Office of Economic Opportunity. In 1972, the medical center moved to its current location on Springville Road in New Holland, and in 1973 it officially became incorporated as a nonprofit organization.
Over the years, Welsh Mountain Health Centers has continued to grow and expand. In 2004, Meadow Creek Family Practice, Welsh Mountain’s second location, opened at The Center for Health at Garden Spot Village in New Holland. In April of 2011, Welsh Mountain opened its Lebanon Ridge Community Health facility on Norman Drive in Lebanon, and its Lebanon Ridge Oral Health facility on South Ninth Street in Lebanon opened in 2014. These locations were created to serve the residents who were going outside of Lebanon County for medical and dental care due to the lack of providers accepting Medical Assistance within the area.
Lebanon Ridge Community Health provided nearly 2,000 individuals with medical care in 2015. What sets Lebanon Ridge apart from other health facilities is its integrated care system. Patients receive care “for the whole person.” Striving to be at the forefront of the integrated care system, Lebanon Ridge Community Health provides general medical care for its clients ranging from pediatrics, to gynecological care, to family planning. In addition, behavioral health services are likewise provided. Two nurse practitioners and one pediatrician currently serve at the Lebanon Ridge Community Health facility. Welsh Mountain strives to partner with local organizations so that they can refer patients and coordinate specialty care if necessary.
Lebanon Ridge Oral Health provides a wide array of dental services for its patients, and served over 4,000 individuals in 2015. This includes dental exams, fillings, extractions, dentures, root canals, crowns, sealants, X-rays, and limited urgent care. Four dentists and three hygienists work at the facility.
In addition to providing direct medical and dental services, Welsh Mountain Health Centers also provides educational opportunities for its patients and for the local community. By offering case management services, Welsh Mountain is able to offer patients individualized health education. A number of clinics are also offered throughout the year.
Welsh Mountain serves individuals of all ages. All are welcome and invited to utilize the services provided at both Lebanon Ridge Community Health and Lebanon Ridge Oral Health. The organization accepts commercial insurance, but also welcomes patients who have Medicaid. Welsh Mountain offers a sliding fee discount to all patients. This sliding fee is based on family size as well as income up to 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Families interested in taking advantage of this sliding fee scale must complete an application and provide proof of income.
The Lebanon City area also has a high percentage of Hispanic and Arabic individuals. A good portion of the staff at the Lebanon Ridge facilities is bilingual. The organization also has interpreter machines to help them most effectively communicate with patients to overcome any possible barriers to care.
Welsh Mountain has a large community event planned for August 13 of this year. This Community Health & Resource Fair will take place at either Monument Park or Optimist Park in Lebanon. It will feature approximately 47 organizations, as well as the Colgate van, a mobile dental clinic. There will be plenty of exciting activities for kids, and educational materials for adults to help them learn about the organizations and their available services. More details regarding the event will be released closer to August.
Anyone with additional questions regarding Welsh Mountain Health Centers can visit their website at www.welshmountain.com. Lebanon Ridge Community Health can be reached at 717-272-2700, and Lebanon Ridge Oral Health can be reached at 717-450-7015.
