Community Health Centers of America, the Department of Neurology at UC San Francisco, and Legacy Health Endowment have collaborated to address the scarcity of neurology services in rural parts of Stanislaus and Merced counties.
Beginning Feb. 16, UCSF neurologists will be available at the CHCA clinic in Gustine, 489 Fifth St. A rotating group of neurologists from UCSF will see patients every other Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., making it more convenient for residents of the West Side who now must travel more than an hour in many cases for neurology services.
“Typically, these days, people are waiting anywhere from four to six months to see a neurologist, if they’re lucky,” said Jeffrey Lewis, CEO and president of LHE. “It’s wonderful because off how it’s going to help so many people in Merced and Stanislaus counties. Physicians will be able to send over patients and people will not be waiting for months. And the best part of this is, this is the first step, If goes as well as we anticipate, then question is, what’s physicians’ specialty do we target next?
To make an appointment, patients should request their provider’s office to call CHCA Referrals Department at (209) 840-6779 or email Neurologyreferrals@chcahealth.org. Primary care offices can also submit referral requests through the CHCA website at www.chcahealth.org.
The Gustine facility is a Federally Qualified Health Center licensed by the state and federal governments. It treats all patients. Those without health insurance pay a sliding fee based on income.
Languages spoken at the clinic include English, Spanish, and Punjabi.
The UCSF neurologists will treat patients with conditions such as dementia, headache, Parkinson’s disease, and neuropathy, as well as people who have suffered strokes or other brain-related injuries.
One of the primary goals of the clinic is to bring critical neurological care to an underserved area, said Naresh Channaveerappa, CEO of CHCA. The joint venture is intended to make access to specialists easier and eliminate the frustration associated with lengthy waiting periods for appointments.
“Even before the pandemic, access to specialists was tough — today, it is even worse,” said Jeffrey Lewis, president and CEO of Legacy Health Endowment.
LHE has provided a $100,000 grant to CHCA to launch the joint program with UCSF.
Findings published in the November 2023 issue of Neurology magazine revealed that nearly one in five Medicare beneficiaries travel 50 or more miles one way to see a neurologist. The statistics assume patients have reliable transportation and can attend follow-up visits, but the reality is that transportation challenges often prevent patients from receiving necessary follow-up care.
Dr. Nandeesh Veerappa, the chief medical officer for CHCA, emphasized the significance of this collaboration in addressing the needs of the West Side’s large Hispanic population, particularly those suffering from strokes and other neurological disorders.
Early diagnosis by a neurologist can also help caregivers of elderly patients better understand the challenges and implement therapeutic solutions where possible.
Dr. John Engstrom, vice chair for clinical affairs in the Department of Neurology at UCSF, said it is essential that rural communities have access to neurologic care. “This pilot program will enable us to provide new patient neurologic care, in-person and as a community partner, in conjunction with Community Health Centers of America,” he said.
