About Us
Memphis Health Center, Inc. (MHC) strives to provide safe, quality, affordable, effective and comprehensive health services to the citizens of Shelby and Fayette counties in Tennessee. In support of this, MHC is dedicated to playing an active leadership role in the development, delivery, accessibility and advocacy of primary health care to improve the well-being of the individuals in the communities that it serves.
The concept for Memphis Health Center was developed in 1969 due to concerns over the inequities and disparities in health care access for medically underserved populations in the Mid-South area. These concerns prompted a group of Memphis, Tennessee residents, leaders, physicians and socially concerned individuals to formally develop a corrective plan of action.
In 1970, Memphis Health Center was formally incorporated under the laws of the State of Tennessee and in 1972, a Section 330 Community Health Center (CHC) grant application was submitted to the U.S. Office of Equal Opportunity for the purpose of funding a clinic to service poor, uninsured and underserved citizens in Shelby County. The Section 330 CHC grant funding was awarded and received in late 1972. This funding allowed Memphis Health Center (MHC) to initially open for service in two trailers located at 360 E.H. Crump Boulevard. Mounting demand for service by the local community eventually led to the construction of a permanent clinic located on this same site in 1974. In 1984, to address the demand of increased urban users and to enhance user accessibility, the Center opened a satellite clinic, called the Greenlaw Health Center. This facility would later be relocated to 915 East McLemore, Suite #107.
Shortly thereafter, at the request of the Department of Health & Human Services Regional Office, MHC began providing management assistance to the Rossville Rural Health Center located at 4940 Highway 57, Rossville, TN 38066 in Fayette County. Rossville was formally incorporated under the MHC organizational structure by 1987. Also in 1987, MHC responded to the health care access needs of Memphis' growing homeless population by applying for and ultimately receiving Section 330 Healthcare for the Homeless grant to provide a comprehensive array of medical and support services to local residents suffering from homelessness.
Currently, MHC offers a comprehensive, integrated program of quality medical services under a primary care delivery system which emphasizes preventive health and wellness. Clinical services include: immunizations and early screening, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, HIV/AIDS primary medical services, dental, medical laboratory, pediatrics, pharmacy, radiology, ophthalmology, homeless services, student health services, and podiatry.
MHC has an array of support and enabling service programs inclusive of social services, case management, health education, transportation (at the rural location), Women, Infant and Children (WIC), family planning, Community Network Program (CNP), health education and community outreach programs.
In its 2012 Uniform Data System (UDS) Report, MHC reported a total of 14,127 users and a total of 55,600 encounters. The user population was 96% minority populations with the vast majority living at or below current federal poverty limits.