About Rocking Horse Community Health Center

Rocking Horse Community Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are community-based organizations that provide comprehensive primary and preventative care to persons of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay. FQHCs provide comprehensive health services to medically under-served areas while helping patients to establish medical homes.

Qualifications:

  • Serve an under-served area or population
  • Offer a sliding fee scale
  • Provide comprehensive services (either on-site or by arrangement with another provider), including:
  • Preventive health services
  • Dental services
  • Mental health and substance abuse services
  • Hospital and specialty care
  • Have an ongoing quality assurance program
  • Have a governing board of directors, at least 51% are users of the Center

Rocking Horse Community Health Center is a Joint Commission Certified Primary Care Medical Home. (PCMH)

This accreditation is based on the agency’s core functions and attributes which include:
  • Patient-centered care: Relationship-based care focuses on the whole person and understanding and respecting each patient’s needs, culture, values and preferences.
  • Comprehensive care: A team of providers (may include physicians, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, mental health workers, social workers and others) work to meet each patient’s physical and mental health care needs, including prevention and wellness, acute care and chronic care.
  • Coordinating care: Care is coordinated across the broader health care system, including specialty care, hospitals, home care and the provision of community and support services. This is particularly critical during transitions between sites of care, such as when patients are discharged from the hospital.
  • Superb access to care: Patients have access to services with shorter waiting times for urgent needs, enhanced in-person hours, around the clock telephone or electronic access to members of the care team, and alternative methods of communication.
  • System based approach to quality and safety: The organization uses evidence-based medicine and clinical decision support tools, engages in performance measurement and improvement, measures and responds to patient experiences and satisfaction, practices population health management, and publicly shares robust quality and safety data and improvement activities.

Our Mission

Rocking Horse Community Health Center creates a caring environment where quality services empower adults and children to improve their physical and emotional health

Our Vision

We improve the quality of life for our patients and the communities we serve

Our Values

Collaboration, Integrity, Excellence, Respect, Compassion, Holistic Care, Accountability, Non-judgmental Environment

The Rocking Horse Community Health Center – Diversity Equity Inclusion Statement

The mission of Rocking Horse Community Health Center, RHCHC, is to create a caring environment where our quality services empower adults and children to improve their physical and emotional health.

This mission guides our Board of Directors, Staff and Volunteers at RHCHC. We are committed to including diversity, equity and inclusion, DEI, as part of our core values. We actively work to dismantle systemic racism and inequalities; this work helps guide the direction of our organization.

RHCHC understands the racial and discriminatory disparities that exist in the healthcare field and is committed to delivering health care in a manner that respects DEI, with the full intent of ensuring an optimal patient experience and achieving better health outcomes for all.

We approach our work on DEI purposefully, with courage and optimism-knowing it requires a sustained commitment. When we make mistakes along the way, we will adapt and continue to learn.

We define Diversity as- Characteristics and traits that make each individual unique. Diversity includes many common attributes including but not limited to, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, economic circumstance, age, physical ability, backgrounds, experiences, values, perspectives and religious beliefs. RHCHC will invite, respect and leverage our differences and will invite and reflect the communities we serve.

We define Equity as- the alignment of our practices and resources so that people of all races, cultures, and ethnicities have opportunities to thrive. We vow that everyone is treated fairly, is respected and has access to the same services and resources.

We define Inclusion as- RHCHC’s commitment to take intentional action to create an environment in which everyone feels welcomed, supported and valued to participate fully. We are committed to creating a community that recognizes and embraces diverse backgrounds, identities and lived experiences. We do not tolerate or condone discrimination.

RHCHC Historical Timeline

1997-1998

A dedicated group of Springfield residents embarked upon a project focusing on the health care needs for at-risk, underserved, and uninsured children, called the Rally for the Poor. Through their vision and dedication, they broke ground in 1998 for a pediatric facility to serve the neediest children in Springfield. Simultaneously, Wittenberg University’s Urban Studies program completed a geographical information systems (GIS) study of poverty concentrations in Springfield. Once mapped, the largest concentrations of poverty were in census tracts that, when viewed together as a whole, resembled a rocking horse. The belly of the horse was the block selected to be the site of the new pediatric medical facility. Selecting “Rocking Horse Center” as the name of the facility was obvious and the Center quickly garnered support, respect and admiration from the community.

1999

Opening in May 1999, Rocking Horse Center, a not-for-profit, 501c3, began with a goal to provide comprehensive healthcare to approximately 1,700 children, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

2005-2007

In 2005, a Community-led Steering Committee recommended that Rocking Horse Center should be the lead organization to bring a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) to Springfield. In May 2007, the Center submitted a full status application as a potential “new access point in a high poverty county”. This initial application was not funded. However, in December of 2007, Rocking Horse Center submitted a second application.

2008

In March 2008, Rocking Horse Center acquired the Community Hospital Health Care Clinic from Community Mercy Health Partners and began serving adults in preparation of becoming a Federally Qualified Health Center. The addition of adult primary care rounded out the services offered, making Rocking Horse Center eligible to apply for designation as a look-alike FQHC.

Our Story

2009

In February 2009, Rocking Horse Center was awarded full-status Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) status and became Rocking Horse Community Health Center (RHCHC). This recognition stems, in part, from the Affordable Care Act, which provided funding for 126 Health Center New Access Points (NAPs). This additional Federal funding, along with financial support from community partners, has enabled RHCHC to better fulfill its mission of providing comprehensive healthcare to the underserved in the community, regardless of their ability to pay.

2010

In 2010, RHCHC took over services for the Parent Infant Center (PIC), and the medical office at the Springfield City Schools – School of Innovation (SOI) located on Selma Road. PIC provides material assistance including diapers and formula, as well as childbirth and parenting classes, to anyone in the community at no charge. All PIC Services are located in the RHCHC Springfield Office. The medical office at the School of Innovation is in place to provide point of service healthcare for students and their families.

Our Story

2013

In 2013, with a $6M federal grant, RHCHC was able to expand its capacity by tripling the original physical space with an addition of more than 42,000 square feet. This space included areas for clinical expansion, dental services, chiropractic, expanded behavioral health and psychiatric services, substance abuse, obstetrical, and administrative staff. The cost of the expansion was eight million dollars, with $1,500,000 coming through a New Market Tax Credit Project.

In December of 2013, RHCHC entered into an agreement with Mulberry Terrace Limited Partners, Inc., to provide medical and behavioral health services to tenants who reside in the housing project.  Mulberry Terrace is an affordable, permanent supportive housing project located at 120 West Mulberry Street in Springfield. RHCHC paid for $250,000 in renovations to prepare for a medical operation containing exam rooms, medical offices, a lab, and check-in area.

2015

In 2015, RHCHC was awarded an additional New Access Point Grant for Madison County. We collaborated with Madison County Health Partners Free Clinic, which is located on the campus of Madison County Hospital in London, Ohio. The Free Clinic served the neediest people in Madison County who had no health insurance. However, they were only able to support operations for three hours per week. RHCHC now operates the facility on a full-time basis.

Our Story
Our Story

2017

Being a Federally Qualified Health Center has allowed RHCHC to expand services and sites, providing more comprehensive primary care to more patients. In 2017, Rocking Horse Center opened Chakeres Dental Care providing comprehensive dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays. Additionally, Chiropractic Solutions opened providing an alternative solution to pain.

2018 to
Present Day

In 2018, RHCHC served over 13,500 patients and provided over 63,600 patient visits. The Center employs over 160 individuals across four locations. Rocking Horse Community Health Center creates a caring environment where quality services empower adults and children to improve their physical and emotional health. To this date, when the name “Rocking Horse” is mentioned in the community, it conveys a sense of warmth and pride.

Our Story