“We are proud to say that El Centro is one of the Charities' initial grantees, identified through the community health assessment process. We are grateful for the tremendous impact that El Centro has had on the Houston community."

Patricia Gail Bray, PhD Executive Director and Chief Administrative and Academic Officer
St. Luke's Episcopal Health Charities

About El Centro de Corazón

El Centro de Corazón was founded in June 1994 by Mary Jo May as a community-based social service organization for East End families, with an initial focus on early childhood development and mental health services. Under her leadership, El Centro has grown into a community-based Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) providing primary care, pediatric, prenatal, mental health, and dental services. El Centro filed for Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) designation and opened its first clinic in 2003. Today El Centro operates five sites and continues to expand to meet the ever growing needs of the community.

Mission

The mission of El Centro de Corazón is to promote the individual, community, and social health of the East End and the greater Houston area.

Health disparities

El Centro is at the heart of making the East End a healthy community, through quality care that reaches the entire family, treating the whole person through prenatal, adult and pediatric primary care, dental, and mental health services (Go To Target Population)

El Centro provides

  • All services in Spanish
  • Dental, Mental, & Primary Health Care
  • Mental health services at each site
  • Nutrition classes for the whole family
  • Monthly shared medical visit groups for diabetic patients where patients can
    meet with the physician, nutritionist and nurse in one appointment

History

1994

El Centro was founded and operated out a house in the community, offering early childhood intervention and mental health services
2003

El Centro merged with Eastwood Health Clinic and deemed a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)
2005
El Centro expanded pediatric and primary care to City of Houston Magnolia Multi Service Center
2007
El Centro expanded prenatal care to City of Houston Magnolia Multi Service Center
2010
El Centro expanded pediatric care to the new John S. Dunn Clinic and expanded prenatal & accompanying behavioral health services to City of Houston Sunnyside Multi Service Center


Houston/Harris County:
1.1 million uninsured in Harris County which is over 30% of the population
500,000 residents are underinsured
25% of Harris County children are uninsured
52% of Harris County Hispanic population is uninsured
ER visits rose 18% nationally, 33% in Texas, and 50% in Houston in the last 5 years


East End:
90% Hispanic
36% at or below 19 years of age
61% between 20-64
64% of the population legally impoverished
87% uninsured


El Centro de Corazón
95% Hispanic
95% adult patients (excluding prenatal) are uninsured
63% below 100% of federal poverty guidelines

Target population:

  • Has a diabetes rate of 8.3% compare to 7.0% Texas
  • Late entry into prenatal 46% compared to 20% for Harris County
  • 81% of population linguistically isolated
Health Condition In Care Not in Care
Diabetes
30%
70%
High blood Pressure
33%
67%
Hypertension 88% 12%

 

Mental Health Diagnoses Percentage of Increase 2007 to 2008
Anxiety
78%
Depression
66%

Encounters:

2007
14,322 patient visits
2008
17,092 patient visits
2009
21,377 patient visits
2010 22,598 patient visits

 

Board of Directors

Donna Alexander, Chair

 Patricia Garcia, Treasurer
Mir Fox & Rodriguez

C. Giovanni Garibay
Cash America

Douglas Graham, Vice Chair
Baylor College of Medicine

Maria Pereyra-Gonzalez
BBVA Compass

John G. Hinojosa
Hinojosa & Associates

Claudia C. Lopez
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Marcus P. Malonson, CFP
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc.

Angie Martinez
Angie’s Notary & Income Tax Service

Robert McStay
CHRISTUS Health

Carlos A. Moreno, MD
UT Health Science Center Houston Medical School

Gabriel Rangel II
First Investors Corp

Joel Shannon, Secretary
Attorney-Retired


Executive Staff

Mary Jo May
Chief Executive Officer

Marcie Mir, LCSW
Assistant Executive Officer/Chief Development Officer

Linda Murphy-Knoll, MN, RN
Chief Operations Officer

Kelvin D. Shepherd, D.O., M.Ed.
Chief Medical Officer

David Mak
Chief Finance Officer

Scoop Carlile
Chief Information Officer


 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2011 El Centro de Corazón. All rights reserved.