Our History
A People-Centered Vision
The Atchison Community Health Clinic opened in 2009 when Atchison physicians, Chad Johanning and Aaron Sinclair, with the strong support of Atchison Hospital, sought to meet the primary health care needs of the underinsured and uninsured citizens in Atchison and surrounding counties.
In its formative years, ACHC was only open for two evening clinics per week. Dr. Sinclair enlisted the help of a few local dentists, nurses, doctors, social workers, and other community members to volunteer their time and expertise and offer free medical and dental care to meet the growing needs of the community.
The focus of the clinic has always been on prevention, education, and wellness, encouraging people to seek out routine preventative care before requiring emergent care.
The Growing Need
In 2013, although not yet open full time, ACHC served 928 patients. In 2013 and 2014 combined, there were 4,900 clinic visits. Volunteers logged thousands of hours and were able to provide nursing care and help patients sign up for free medicines and find other services they needed.
In August of 2015, ACHC received the New Access Point Grant for $1.2 million. This grant is awarded from the federal government to facilitate the delivery of healthcare services to underserved and vulnerable populations. This award has enabled ACHC to become a Federally Qualified Health Center offering high-quality primary healthcare services to all, regardless of a person’s ability to pay. There are more than nine thousand FQHC locations across America serving the primary healthcare needs of approximately twenty-seven million patients, both with insurance and without.
Hope for a Healthier Community
Today, what sets Atchison Community Health Clinic apart from other healthcare clinics is that we provide medical, dental, and mental health services, all in one convenient location. We also offer medication assistance from our in-house pharmacy to those that qualify. We offer full-time hours Monday through Friday, with nursing staff available after hours for emergencies.
At ACHC, we’re the everybody clinic. We take care of the body, mind, and spirit in a compassionate, respectful, and professional manner. Our staff is excited to expand our services and remains committed to improving the quality of life, health, and well-being of all those in Atchison County and the surrounding regions.
We are now a full-time health clinic with expanded services, open full-time to the public. This has been a long-time coming, but the wait was worth it. -Kathy Butler Former Executive Director
