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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: May 13, 2008
For more information, contact Virginia Elliott, Vice President for Programs, 620-662-8586

GraceMed Health Clinic receives Project of the Year award

Hutchinson, KS—GraceMed Health Clinic, Wichita, today received the Janet Sevier Gilbreath Special Project of the Year Recognition Award presented annually by the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund to acknowledge its project of the year.

In 2007, GraceMed Health Clinic became a Federally Qualified Health Center. This federal award not only acknowledged the need for health care for the uninsured and underinsured in the Wichita area, but also the capability of GraceMed to provide quality medical and dental care with excellent practitioners, strong management, exemplary fiscal practices, and broad community and volunteer support.

This accomplishment is the culmination of years of hard work by directors, staff, volunteers and donors of GraceMed. GraceMed Health Clinic, as a small medical clinic attached to United Methodist Urban Ministry, was among the first recipients of grants from the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund. Twenty-six grants from the Health Ministry Fund totaling more than $1.6 million have supported the Clinic’s growth and a number of special projects over the past 20 years, including $25,000 to assist with the application for Federally Qualified Health Center status.

GraceMed has come a long way since it was on the brink of closing just seven years ago due to several unfortunate circumstances. Through the persistence of leadership and support from churches, the Kansas West Conference, the Health Ministry Fund and many individuals and organizations, GraceMed not only regained financial stability but also literally reinvented itself to become one of the most progressive medical and dental safety net providers in the state.

From 2004 to 2007, the number of staff members has grown from 24 to 78 and the annual budget has increased from just under one million dollars to $5.2 million. More important, the number of people who receive quality health care each year through GraceMed has increased from 6,295 to 12,532 patients and from 12,993 to 35,960 patient encounters.

GraceMed has three clinic locations, with a fourth to be added in September of 2008. Its main clinic was relocated to a larger facility in 2006 which increased available space from 5,000 to 27,000 square feet, allowing for substantial growth in clinic operations. At each clinic location, primary medical care and oral health care services are available.

There have also been some recent additions to the services of GraceMed. With a new van purchased with United Methodist Health Ministry Fund grant funding, oral health care services are now available off-site at a variety of community locations to reach children and senior adults with needed services. GraceMed also added in 2007 a part-time Chaplain position to insure that patients and staff members have a resource to call on in times of need.

With notable achievement and continued dedication to service, GraceMed Health Clinic is recognized for advancing the vision of a Christian health community and is recognized as the Janet Sevier Gilbreath Special Project for 2007.

Representing GraceMed Health Clinic at the award ceremony in Hutchinson were David Sanford, Executive Director; Terry Bourlard, Board President; Barton Prince, Board Vice-President; Brenda Moore, Board Treasurer; Karin Smith, Board Secretary; Lou Ann Ewertt, Board Member; Sally Chesser, Ex-Officio Board Member; and Karen Wilson, Dental Clinic Administrator

GraceMed was selected from among the 74 projects funded during 2007 by the Health Fund in fulfilling its mission of Healthy Kansans through cooperative and strategic philanthropy guided by Christian principles. The Health Fund concentrates its grant making in three crucial areas: oral health, healthy lifestyles through physical activity and healthier food choices, and access to health care in Kansas.

The Project of the Year award is named in honor of Janet Sevier Gilbreath, the first Chairperson of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund. The criteria for selection include the attainment of goals, volunteer support, development of community support, and good management and financial practices to assure quality of service delivery.

More information about GraceMed may be found on their website: www.gracemed.org

More detail about the Project of the Year award is available through the Health Fund website:
http://www.healthfund.org/jsg/jsg2007.php

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