Health Center

The J. C. Lewis Health Center

The facility is a federally qualified health center and offers 32 primary care beds for respite care and is the main site for general outpatient care, including dental health, eye clinics, and health promotion. 

The services provided through the J. C. Lewis Health Center in 2007 saved Memorial Health University Medical Center and St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System $26,950,510 in the cost of uncompensated care.

Outpatient Services for 2008

• 4,771 patients were seen
• 17,489 medical patient encounters 
• 1,198 emergency room diversions

Respite Services for 2008

• 285 total admissions

Our Services:

Out-Patient Primary Care– The J. C. Lewis Health Center serves individuals that are homeless through our patient primary care services.

· Primary Care Physician services

· Medication Assistance  services

· Medical Planning and Prevention

Respite Care—J.C. Lewis Health Center operates a 24-bed respite care facility. Individuals who receive care through the respite care facility are deemed too sick to live in areas shelters, however they have completed their medical stay and have been referred by local Medical Centers for further monitoring.

· Medical Monitoring

· Transitional Planning

·  Shelter & Housing Referral  services

· Economic  Education & Referral services 

Long Term Respite Care  The J.C. Lewis Health Center operates a 6-bed long term respite care unit.  Patients in long -term respite care stay an average of 30 days longer for primary care monitoring and  treatment.

· Medical Monitoring

· Transitional Planning

· Housing & Economic Assistance Referral  

Prison Re-Entry Program–  The Prison Re-Entry Program allows rehabilitated ex-offenders who have a chronic medical condition at release from prison to a 90-day medical monitoring and transition treatment.

· Medical Monitoring

· Transitional Planning /Discharge Planning

· Treatment Planning

· Housing & Economic Assistance Referral

Case Management-  All clients who are housed at J.C. Lewis receive case management services to assist with:

· Case Planning

· Medical adherence

· Housing referral

· Social Support referral

Nutritional Education Care The J. C. Lewis Health Center offers nutritional education by a licensed nutritionist.

· Nutritional Education

· Nutritional Planning

· Dietary supplementation

Transportation The J.C. Lewis Health Center provides transportation services to and from medical appointments for homeless clients who lack adequate transportation to doctors appointments and for medical testing.

Benjamin:

Benjamin has made great strides in the process to piecing his life back together.  When Benjamin was referred to Union Mission’s Grace House from Memorial Medical Center, it appeared he was functionally blind, suffering from memory loss, and just barely beginning his recovery from a recent surgery. Because of the seriousness of his condition, Benjamin was transferred from Grace House to the J. C. Lewis Health Center for respite care.

 

While at J. C. Lewis Health Center, Benjamin underwent more surgery to help correct his vision problems. Union Mission collaborated with the Knights Templar Eye Foundation to assist with funding the procedures necessary to restore his vision.  Staying at the J. C. Lewis Health Center for the duration of his post-operative care ensured the success of his recovery.  As soon as he was able, Benjamin began to read anything that he could; for so long he had been unable to see the basic things that most people take for granted.  

Benjamin moved on to be the resident manager of the J. C. Lewis Health Center.  He gained this position by assisting staff members with small duties and was eventually hired as one of the center’s live in managers. Benjamin continues to give accolades to Union Mission staff for helping restore his health so he could begin his new life.

Contact Information

Rena M. Douse, RN, BSN

Program Coordinator

125 Fahm Street

Savannah, GA 31401

Phone: 912-495-8887 Ext. 1220

Fax: 912-495-8881

Email: rdouse@unionmission.org

 

Aretha R. Jones, MPH, MA 

Vice President of Primary Health Services

Office: 912-495-8887 Ext. 1201

Fax: 912-495-8881

Email: ajones@unionmission.org

 

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