BY CATHY HALL for WEEKLY VOLCANO 3/20/26 |
What Do All These Statistics Have in Common?
* 30,946 women
* 650 babies
* 9,435 children
* 2,355 clinic visits
* 7,020 children
Of the 54,634 Community Health Care patients, 30,946 are women. Women have a very specific set of health care requirements. Community Health Care has a team of health care professionals who focus on women’s health. Annual exams are critical for preventive care, such as early detection of diseases and the management of chronic conditions. Annual exams include screenings for cervical or breast cancer, access to contraception, and menopause management. For any condition, early detection is the best weapon. Whether or not a woman decides to have a family, a healthy woman has a better chance of bearing a healthy child. Community Health Care offers free pregnancy tests.
Last year, Community Health Care providers delivered 650 babies. Depending on which database you use, that is close to 20 percent of all the babies born in Pierce County. If a woman decides she wants to start a family, she can rely on Community Health Care to monitor her pregnancy and guide her along the way. Our Obstetrics and Maternity Support Services teams, through 2,355 obstetric visits last year, offer care to expectant mothers by taking them through the pregnancy process and providing services such as dietitians, behavioral health, and community health workers. The goal is a healthy journey for both mother and baby.
So what happens after a baby is born? Fully 33 percent of Community Health Care patients are age 17 and under. We are focused on providing comprehensive pediatric care for our 9,435 patients in that age bracket. Our Prompt Care Clinic at the Hilltop location is adding a pediatrician for walk-in child visits. Our Key Center location has a dedicated pediatrician. All seven of our clinics are taking new pediatric patients.
Our dental team served 7,020 patients age 17 and under last year. A very important part of overall child health includes dental care. The American Dental Association recommends that a child’s first dental visit occur by the first birthday or within six months of the first tooth erupting. All children under the age of 19 in the state of Washington qualify for dental care either through Apple Health or other plans. Community Health Care’s dental staff are ABCD trained, meaning they are certified to offer specialized, preventive, and restorative care for Apple Health-enrolled children from birth through age 5. We offer dental services for the entire family at five of our seven clinic locations.
Community Health Care is ready to provide medical, dental, behavioral health, and low-cost pharmacy services for the whole family, no matter your income or insurance status. No one is ever turned away for inability to pay. If you have questions about insurance availability, the CHC Insurance Enrollment Assistance line is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. They can be reached at (253) 722-2154.
Community Health Care is the health care provider for 54,626 people in Pierce County, which is 9 percent of the population. Join the crowd. Our website is www.commhealth.org, or call us at (253) 722-2161 to make an appointment.
