Page 126 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2021

GIVING BACK
Coastal Family Health Center
story by Lynn Lofton photos courtesy of Coastal Family Health Center
During the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide shutdown, Coastal Family Health Center added new programs and partnerships, increasing access to healthcare in Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Greene, George, and Wayne counties. Coastal is the fourth largest federally qualified community health center in Mississippi and was established in 1976 as a 501c private, not-for-profit corporation.
For more than 45 years, it has remained true to its mission by focusing on the values of dignity, justice, service, excellence, and stewardship while simultaneously raising the standards in quality, service, innovation, integrity, and technology. Coastal is committed to providing patients with the best care possible and offering essential services to all patients with or without insurance. A discount sliding fee is used for those who are determined eligible. Eligibility is determined by the patient’s household income and family size.
Marketing and Communications Director Emily Burke states, “Fifty-one percent of our patients are uninsured and underinsured. We estimate to serve 31,000 patients this year, which is a slight dip in comparable years.”
The dip in patients seen is imparted by the COVID-19 pandemic and patients forgoing regular visits and routine screening. This past year there has been a rise in behavioral health services where Coastal’s providers made use of telehealth services to assist patients during a ‘contact-free environment,’
she added.
One of Coastal’s newest services is 3D mammography
imaging, a cutting-edge technology that offers more details
and detects cancer earlier. Patients are provided with these modern advancements in mammography screening at Biloxi and Leakesville clinics. The purchase of two 3D mammography imaging units in the past 18 months is another example of Coastal’s resilience and dedication in providing the community with the highest quality services.
Deborah Lombardo, a 60-year-old resident of Pass Christian, says the help she received from Coastal Family Health Center when she had breast cancer was fantastic. “They were all very nice, and I love them. Luella Williams, APRN, worked with me and was a great help,” Lombardo recalls. “She immediately got me in for a mammogram and explained everything that was going to happen, and then set up everything for me at Memorial Hospital.”
In November 2021, Coastal announced the expansion
of pharmacy services, opening its doors to everyone in the community. Those who use providers outside of Coastal’s medical team can now take advantage of its prescription benefits at Biloxi, Gulfport, and Leakesville clinics. Additionally, Coastal has increased patient safety by installing the Parata Max® 2 robotic prescription dispensing unit at their Gulfport pharmacy. This prescription dispensing technology improves
126 | December 2021
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