Pediatrics is just one of the specialties offered at Community Health Centers, which provides affordable treatment for the whole family at each of its 16 locations in Central Florida.

Throughout a career in medicine, Dr. Jocelyn Pichardo has always been committed to the idea that every member of a community deserves quality and compassionate care that is personalized to his or her needs, regardless of economic status. It is no wonder, then, that she eventually found a home at Community Health Centers (CHC), a nonprofit organization that has been serving Central Florida’s diverse population since 1972.

“I have been here for 10 years, and prior to that I worked for another similar center, so this is all I have known in the 27 years of my career,” says Dr. Pichardo, a practicing physician and the chief medical officer at CHC. “I believe in the model, I believe in the need, and I believe in the mission of CHC. We care about helping these patients.”

With 16 centers in Orange and Lake counties, and two more set to open in the next few years, CHC is a multi-disciplinary organization offering everything from family care to dentistry and a pharmacy, all under one roof. Specialties such as OB/GYN, optometry and behavioral health are also available.

CHC accepts private insurances, Medicare and Medicaid, and patients don’t need insurance to schedule an appointment. A sliding-scale program offers discounts based on household income and size.

“The comprehensiveness of our care is very important,” Dr. Pichardo says. “The reason I say that is because health care can be complex for patients who don’t know how to navigate it. The fact that we are a one-stop shop where you can see your primary doctor, you can see your optometrist, you can take care of your behavioral needs and you can get your prescriptions is a great value. That is something you don’t always see and our patients make good use of that.”

Of course, pediatrics is a major piece of the puzzle, and with full-time pediatricians at most of CHC’s centers, parents never have to travel far when their children need to see a doctor. The wide range of services geared toward youngsters includes school/sports physicals, vaccinations, flu shots, cancer screenings, treatment for injuries as well as chronic illnesses, nutrition counseling, vision and hearing screenings, and much more.

The waiting and exam rooms are also designed to make children feel comfortable and to lessen the feeling of being in a doctor’s office.

“All of our centers have a theme in the children’s areas,” says John Riordan, director of marketing and community relations. “In Meadow Woods, for example, it looks like a pirate ship—a cartoonish, friendly pirate ship with parrots, and the wood flooring makes it look like you’re on the ship deck. It’s very appealing for children. We’ve done a very good job of hanging instruments on the wall in murals that blend in, so the children don’t see some of the scopes and instruments that our providers use.”

The pediatricians themselves are also known for their gentle nature around kids.

“Our pediatricians do not use a traditional lab coat; they wear kid-friendly clothes to make the children feel comfortable,” Dr. Pichardo says. “Our providers have a welcoming personality and a smile and it helps with pediatric patients. They have the happy face you want to see when you see a doctor.”

CHC has extended hours to accommodate busy families, as its centers stay open until 6 p.m. on Mondays and 7 p.m. on Tuesdays while also offering weekend hours at their Apopka and Winter Garden centers. Through the use of Electronic Health Records, information is easily shared between centers, too, so patients can be seen wherever it is most convenient. Telemedicine is also offered for several health services, too.

Many of the providers also speak other languages so that families are more comfortable and able to understand their plan of care.

“We have team members in our centers who can assist parents if they don’t have their child signed up for Florida Medicaid or other programs that could benefit them,” Riordan says.

If a patient’s needs fall outside the scope of CHC’s services, it has strong relationships with partners in the community—such as Nemours, Orlando Health and AdventHealth—and can connect them with specialized care outside of its walls.

Clearly, CHC is dedicated to doing all it can to get the people of Central Florida the care they need, and Dr. Pichardo is just hoping more people will turn to the organization.

“Central Florida is a melting pot and it’s a very dynamic population,” she says. “You see a lot of people coming in and coming out, so we always want the ever-changing population to know the services that we have. I practice out of the clinic in Pine Hills, and often I hear patients say, ‘I didn’t know about all of the services that you offer.’ I think part of that is the landscape of our community.”

“At Community Health Centers, we’re constantly working to reach more families and expand access to care. Currently, we are adding 30% more space at our Apopka center, we’ll be able to serve additional patients and provide even more essential services. Growth is part of our mission, and we’re proud to keep moving forward,” adds Riordan.

Community Health Centers
Multiple locations
Orange County: (407) 905-8827
Lake County: (352) 314-7400
CHCFL.org