What is a community health center?

A community health center is a non-profit provider of primary and preventive health services, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. It functions like a doctor’s office, offering services such as regular office visits, check-ups, screenings, and case management for chronic conditions. Community health centers have the ability to provide even more services; at the Cape Cod Free Clinic & Community Health Center, our patients can receive behavioral health, family planning and prescription assistance services, as well as referrals for specialty care.

Community health centers care for all patients, regardless of ability to pay or insurance status. Patients without health insurance receive a financial screening to determine if they qualify for any public health benefits programs. Those without insurance coverage are expected to make payments for their visits; these payments are based on a sliding scale and determined by the results of their financial screening.

Board of Directors

A unique aspect of community health centers is that they are consumer driven, meaning that more than one half of the Board of Directors are patients of the Health Center. After all, who knows best the needs of patients and the community than the people who use the services themselves?

With different skills and backgrounds, our Board Members work together to make decisions about how the Health Center can best serve our community. We are grateful to them for their dedication and hard work.

Following is a list of members of the Health Center’s Board of Directors:

Officers:

• Michael Bihari, MD, President
• Carol Dubè, Vice President
• Robert Chandler, Treasurer
• Levi Adams, Clerk
• Rudolph Hunter, Past President

Directors:

• Lizanne Foley, Atty.
• John Keane, PhD
• Anthony Ross
• Jean Stewart, MSN, RN
• M. Judy Tarr, MSN, RN
• Anita Thacker
• Pat Harris
• David Peterson
• Dale Weldon, MD

Administrative Staff:

• Karen Gardner, CFO/Acting Chief Executive Officer
• Lisa Taylor, MD, Chief Medical Officer
• Karen Bissonnette, CFRE, Development Director