Collier Health Services, Inc., New Programs

As we look toward the future, our vision will continue to evolve and adapt to meet the growing needs of our community and the ever changing economics of healthcare. We are always looking at ways to continue to improve. Three new programs highlight our near future.

The new UF Dental Program at Edison is an innovative collaboration between NCEF (who has provided $4 million in funding to construct the building), the University of Florida College of Dentistry (who will provide the residents), chs (who will operate the facility), and Edison College (on whose land the building will be located).

The program is expected to open in the fall of 2008 and will eventually expand to provide specialized pediatric treatment to an estimated 5,000 children per year. Bringing a top-notch pediatric dental program to Collier County will help close the gaps in oral health, with Edison College’s East Naples campus ideally located near a large population of at-risk children. Coupled with existing chs facilities, this comprehensive oral health initiative to expand the availability of dental services will ensure that all children have access to care.

Learn More About: Our Partnership with UF, UF Dental

Florida State University’s College of Medicine, in partnership with CHS, has established a training program focusing on rural health. Located in the Isabel Collier Read Medical Center we offer primary health care services to the community and provide innovative educational experiences to third- and fourth-year medical students, who can participate in training rotations. We have created a pediatric center of excellence, which is the first of its kind for underserved children in a rural community.

In addition to the academic and health care components, this brings an economic development incentive to an underserved part of the state. FSU is bringing professional staff, students and significant operating and construction budgets to Immokalee. This program will have a positive impact on this community in so many ways.

Learn More About: Our Partnership with FSU

The Early Health Program is a plan to ensure primary medical and dental care for uninsured children in their first five years with sponsorship by private individuals, foundations and companies. By getting kids off to a healthy start, they will have a better opportunity for lifelong health and for educational performance. This is consistent with the CHS mission of providing one standard of care for all residents in Collier County, regardless of their ability to pay.

Currently, it is estimated that 28% of residents in Collier County are uninsured, the 2nd highest percentage in the state of Florida. The percentage of uninsured in the Immokalee zip code (34142) is 44.6%, the highest in the state. (Florida Health Insurance Study, August 2005)

The Early Health Program welcomes sponsorship of multiple children or the option of a reoccurring yearly sponsorship. Private support for the program is focused toward providing care for young children not covered by insurance. The EH program is expected to begin signing children for the program in late 2007 or early 2008.

CHS has already opened the program for donors to sponsor 1 year of a child’s early health and dental care at a requested $1,000 per child sponsored.

Our new website is live! Please visit www.earlyhealthpride.org.

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