Community Health Network

Jane Pauley Community Health Center opens; Former NBC news anchor in Indianapolis to talk about the community health center that bears her name

For release: 9/23/2009

Indianapolis, IN---Former NBC news anchor Jane Pauley (TODAY/Dateline) came to Indianapolis today for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially mark the opening of the Jane Pauley Community Health Center, an eastside community health center.  Pauley, an Indianapolis native and Warren Central High School graduate, lent her name to the facility, a collaboration between Community Health Network and the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township. The center serves the local community, including students and their families, regardless of insurance or income, with an emphasis on integrating medical, dental and behavioral health. Pauley, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2001, insisted that the center address all aspects of wellness.

The 1,600-square-foot center is housed in a renovated space at the Renaissance School at 8931 East 30th Street in Indianapolis.  The space was donated by Warren Township Schools, and Community Health Network made a capital commitment of $350,000 to renovate the space. The Community Health Network Foundation continues to leverage its community relationships to facilitate the project and provide long-term philanthropical support.

The center offers primary health care services, including preventive and annual exams; well child care; acute care; chronic disease management; sports physicals, basic gynecological procedures (breast exams, pap smears), minor skin procedures and other services. Patients benefit from a completely electronic medical record system (GE Centricity EMR), two bi-lingual staff members (Spanish-English) and state-of-the-art medical equipment. The center has five exam rooms. In addition to providing access to health care for a medically underserved population, the center focuses on the management of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiac disease and depression. Laboratory and hospital services are available through the Community system.

Community Health Network is providing a medical director, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, two medical assistants, a psychologist and social worker to serve patients. In addition, the center is a resource location for social services.  Medical services are delivered regardless of ability to pay, and the cost of care is based on a sliding fee scale and family income.

The center will also serve as a learning laboratory for best practices in the delivery of health care, with the goal of replicating this model in other community health centers around the country.

“My name outside the clinic might be the first thing a person would see,” said Pauley, “but it's the last thing a patient or parent or child will be thinking about, and certainly the least significant part of this new eastside clinic at the Renaissance school.  But I'm thrilled and honored to be a part of it.”

Renaissance School is located in a part of Indianapolis that is medically underserved. Locating the center inside a school gives local residents a familiar, comfortable place to seek care.

“Community Health Network is honored to work with Jane Pauley and the Warren Township schools on such a meaningful project that benefits the local community,” said Bryan Mills, president and CEO of the network. “Our mission is to provide access to health care and improve the health of area residents. This center offers a unique integration of services under one roof—at a convenient location for families.”

“Healthy students are more focused on their learning, enabling them to achieve at higher levels,” said Dr. Peggy Hinckley, superintendent, MSD of Warren Township.  “When families are healthy, they can focus their energy on supporting their student’s academic goals.”

Community Health Network has partnered with Warren Township schools since 1998, when Community opened its first school-based clinic at Warren Central High School.  Community now operates several school-based clinics in the area.
Though the Jane Pauley Community Health Center is located inside a school, it is not considered a school-based clinic-instead, it is simply a community health center.

Once fully operational, hours for the Jane Pauley Community Health Center will be 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

Pauley, a 1968 graduate of Warren Central High School, will be honored for her role in the project during an evening dinner celebration.

About Community Health Network
Ranked among the nation’s highest-performing health systems and most integrated health care networks, Community Health Network has more than 90 sites of care throughout central Indiana. This includes Community Hospitals East, North and South in Indianapolis and Community Hospital Anderson; The Indiana Heart Hospital, a dedicated heart hospital; Indiana Surgery Centers; Community Physicians of Indiana; Community Home Health Services; MedCheck walk-in care centers and MEDPOINT express convenience clinics; employer health services; nursing homes; and other health care facilities. Community Health Network is committed to getting you well and back to your life. For more information about Community Health Network or to find a physician, call 800-777-7775 or visit eCommunity.com.

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Lynda de Widt
Media Relations
Community Health Network
317-621-3636
E-mail