Health practices join forces
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Foundations Family Medicine, which has medical practices in Scott and Clark counties, has joined Richmond-based Well Care Community Health Inc. Well Care is a Federally Qualified Health Center that is certified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and primarily serves underserved, uninsured and homeless populations.
Foundations Family Medicine has offices in Austin and Henryville. Like Well Care, it provides healthcare in communities that often face socio-economic barriers, such as reliable transportation, education, jobs, and prosperity.
While the healthcare providers are more than two hours apart, the partners say they are closely aligned in purpose and philosophy. They said It was the shared mission that brought them together
“Well Care Community Health and Foundations Family Medicine will benefit greatly from our shared work in addressing the healthcare needs of the underserved, homeless, and uninsured,” said Well Care Community Health CEO Eric Coulter. “We will share expertise and resources such as technology, combined electronic medical records, and administrative staff. Our greatest assets are the knowledge and experience we bring to each other.”
Foundations was led by Dr. William Cooke, who oversaw a team of seven nurse practitioners and a physician assistant. They provided healthcare to 7,000 patients across eight counties.
The organization says Cooke was the sole physician in Austin when the community was hit hard by the opioid crisis and drug-fueled HIV outbreak. The team launched grassroots efforts and programs to care for that patient group.
Cooke says the partnership will provide much-needed support.
“Foundations Family Medicine now falls under Well Care’s FQHC designation, which provides us with greater access to grant funding, enhanced Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement, reduced pricing, and National Health Service Corps health care providers,” said Cooke.
He says the merger will allow him to add and expand services and recruit additional staff.