Local Community Health Center Gets Face Lift
National healthcare magazine gives back to community health center patients

Baltimore, Maryland — September 16, 2005 — One Baltimore community health center that has served its community for 20 years is getting a well-deserved face lift from a local philanthropic medical journal company.

Health centers that provide healthcare to low-income as well as under- and uninsured patients find that they spend most of their time focusing on the quality of patient care rather than on the look and feel of the physical office space. Thanks to a group of corporate volunteers, Matilda Koval Medical Center will receive a fresh coat of paint and some decorative touches for a better atmosphere for both patients and staff.

“Our company spends so much time advising practices on how to improve operations. Many of us felt the need to give something back to this local health center so that its look and feel can match the quality of care received by patients,” says Gerry Hartung, CEO and co-founder of Physicians Practice, America’s Leading Practice Management Journal, which is circulated to more than 300,000 community-based physicians nationwide.

What:
Matilda Koval Medical Center will receive a facility update, compliments of the staff of Physicians Practice. Operated by Baltimore Medical System (BMS), Matilda Koval Medical Center serves nearly 5,000 patients each year with more than 20,000 visits.

Founded in 1984, BMS serves 35,000 patients in many of the neediest communities within Baltimore City and Baltimore County – communities with high rates of unemployment and poverty, low levels of education and job skills, and few or no health services.

When:
Improvements will take place Saturday, September 17 through Thursday, September 22, 2005. Onsite interviews may be scheduled beginning Monday.

Where:
2323 Orleans Street
Baltimore, MD 21224
(Located behind the Jiffy Lube)

Interview sources available:

• Long-term patient who has received care from the health center and who has given back as a center volunteer (available by telephone)
  
  
• Staff member of Matilda Koval Medical Center who lives in the community, often referring neighborhood residents to the center for care (available by telephone)
  
  
• Medical Director, Matilda Koval Medical Center (available onsite or by telephone)
  
  
• CEO, Physicians Practice (available onsite or by telephone)