COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS PARTNERS

Community Health and Wellness Partners (CHWP) started out as a dream 10 years ago. Dr. Randall Longenecker, Tara Bair as well as members of the Mary Rutan Administration came together to brainstorm ways to make their dream of becoming a one-stop medical shop come to life.

In 2013, Ms. Bair, along with the support of MRH, and a grant consultant submitted a grant application for 1.4 million dollars to the Health Resource & Services Administration (HRSA) requesting funding and designation to become a Federally Qualified Health Center. The funding was awarded in late 2013 and the Mad River Family Practice was absorbed into Community Health & Wellness Partners of Logan County a year later with the mission to serve the community by reducing barriers to primary care. In March 2016, CHWP welcomed the merger with Oakhill Medical Associates, a well-respected 50-year-old primary care practice in West Liberty.

Today, Community Health serves the community with primary healthcare at three site locations, Bellefontaine, Russells Point and West Liberty as a non-profit 501(c)3 with a governing body of a 13-member board of Directors. CHWP provides primary health care services at the care of their practice with integrated ancillary services including behavioral health, pharmacy, nutrition, chronic care management, medication assisted treatment and social services support.

Community Health and Wellness Partners serves the community with a team of 66 individuals comprised of 9 medial providers and three psychiatric providers including MDs, PA and NPs; 6 mental health therapists; 1 Clinical Pharmacist and one Registered Dietician. The remaining are members of leadership and ancillary clinical support personnel.

“As a life-long resident of Logan County, I have a keen affection for the citizens of Logan County and the needs of the citizens residing in and around Logan County,” said Ms. Blair. “Watching growth, recessions and regrowth over time, I knew that the model of a community health center would offer individuals better access to care by providing patient-centered quality health care, serving the whole person and ultimately the whole community by eliminating barriers to care. The CHWP team also saw the vision and worked with the mission in mind to develop the health center and now serves patients from Logan and surrounding counties.”

CHWP have been in business and Chamber members for five years. Ms. Blair is a previous Chamber Board member and Chairperson (2014). 

“I believe strongly in giving back to my community through the resources the Chamber has to offer new and small businesses,” said Ms. Blair. “As a previous small-business owner and now overseeing a health organization, the Chamber is at the core of networking and resources.”

CHWP’s newest location is located at 212 E. Columbus Avenue in Bellefontaine. You can also check out their website at www.chwplc.org.

---