Health care options for those in need
The lack of health care is a main concern for many families throughout the nation. For those in Forsyth County who have no insurance or are underinsured, United Heath Centers (UHC) offers health care solutions at a reduced cost.
For more convenience UHC has opened a new facility at 2101 Peters Creek Parkway. This new facility will now offer dental services to assist those in the community as well at this new location. UHC also has two other locations on Waughtown Street and Felicity Lane in the city of Winston-Salem.
“This was started for the community, by the community in the southeast portion of the city because many saw the need for services that were not there,” said William Dixon, the civic and engagement specialist at UHC.
“We target anybody, so regardless of their ability to pay, we will see them,” he continued. “We can see patients for as low as $35 on a sliding fee scale, which is based off of your income and family size.”
Dixon says they see many patients without insurance but they also take public insurance such as Medicare and Medicaid along with private insurance as well. One of his job duties is to help inform the community of the services they provide.
“I am spending a lot of time trying to reach out to churches and civic organizations and anyone deeply rooted in the community so we can offer some of these services and help to them as well,” he went on to say.
The company began as Southside United Health Centers but rebranded about a year ago due to the expansion of the company.
According to Dixon, once the dental aspect of the clinic is open, they will focus primarily on primary and preventative dental care. He says as of now they will not include any orthodontics or any major dentistry such as surgeries. He anticipates the dentistry wing will open at the Peters Creek Parkway location within the next month.
Before Dixon was involved with the civic engagement portion of the clinic, he was the outreach enrollment coordinator. He says he spent most of his time in the community who needed the services who may not have had the access.
“It makes the world of difference to many people because there have been people come in here and just give me a hug or bring me lunch because their whole adult life they have never had the chance to get health insurance so for them to come in here and get insurance for little to nothing really changes their world,” said Dixon.
In 2016, UHC saw over 8,000 patients between the two locations they had open at the time. Dixon says they have not received the numbers from 2017 but expects it to be well over 10,000.
The UHC has full time doctors at all locations but also has a partnership with Wake Forest Baptist where doctors rotate at UHC as well. He says he wants people to know that they are providing top-notch health care even while also offering reduced rates.
“You see the same doctor every time you come in and you don’t have to wait weeks or months to get in,” he said. “Like I said it’s affordable and it is quality, so that is the good thing about us.”
For more information about UHC visit www.uhcenters.org.
