Golden Valley Health Centers (GVHC) continues to grow and partner with others toward an important mission: to provide access to high-quality health care for all, serving with dignity, respect and compassion. On July 1, GVHC opens three new clinics to serve the increasing healthcare needs of local residents.
Central Valley PACE Merced is now open. The program, which opened today, is dedicated to empowering community members who are 55 years of age or above. Program staff work closely with participants and their families to enhance health, dignity, quality of life, and independence. This is a unique model that offers comprehensive medical, dental, vision and specialized care along with a social center, meals and transportation to and from the center and medical appointments. The program is covered by Medi-Cal. However, participants must be qualified by the state of California as being eligible for nursing facility level of care. PACE works to ensure participants thrive within their communities. The PACE Modesto program opened in 2021 and now serves nearly 350 participants.
Two additional new GVHC clinics also open today in Modesto. Paradise Medical Clinic, a former Stanislaus County Health Services Agency facility, which is critical to the healthcare system in the community, and McHenry Specialty Clinic. These clinics offer medical services to thousands of Modesto residents. With the approval of the Board of Supervisors, in April, Stanislaus County gave GVHC the opportunity to absorb both the Paradise clinic and a Specialty Care and Rehabilitation clinic (on Paradise Road and McHenry Avenue respectively). The community health center was uniquely equipped to take on this expansion because of the nearly 100,000 patients GVHC already cared for in Stanislaus County.
Today at the Modesto Paradise clinic GVHC offers Urgent Care, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Women’s Health, Behavioral Health, HIV Health & Wellness and Gender Affirming Care. At the McHenry Specialty Clinic, patients can access Podiatry, Sports Medicine, General Surgery and Orthopedic Surgery, Wound Care and Rehabilitation Services including Physical and Occupational therapies. GVHC now operates 50 clinical sites in the Central Valley and 21 specialty services.
With this transition, the organization has also stepped into a leadership position within the Valley Consortium for Medical Education (VCME) which operates out of the Paradise clinic. For many years, GVHC has been a supporting partner in the physician residency program. GVHC’s Regional Medical Director and Medical Education Director, Dr. Carrie Janiski, now serves as the VCME Interim Program Director as well. This provides an opportunity to serve as the lead facilitator in the residency program.
“Sustaining and building a critical pipeline for health care providers in our area is a top priority for us,” said David Quackenbush, Golden Valley Health Centers President and CEO. “The organization is committed to medical education for the health and wellness of all people who call the Central Valley home, and we believe that continuity of care for both patients in our community and family medicine resident physicians is very important as we design for the future growth of this area,” he added.
Since 1972, the community has come to rely on and trust Golden Valley Health Centers for quality primary care. Because of Federally Qualified Health Centers like GVHC, people in communities without much access to healthcare can enjoy a variety of quality medical services, no matter their income or barriers.
For more information, visit gvhc.org