History
A Brief History of BCHC
Dr. Susan Fister, Founding Executive Director
BCHC began April 1, 2001 as the Bluegrass Farmworkers Health Center. Its founder, Susan Fister, PhD RN, of the College of Health Sciences at Eastern Kentucky University described her passion and the “post it note” encouraging her to apply for federal funding to start the clinic. She responded by “saying yes and keeping a promise” ultimately admitting that she was blessed with a burden that grew into Bluegrass Community Health Center. The first clinic was located on EKU’s campus, but moved later that year to Oxford Circle in Lexington, KY in order to better accommodate the needs of farm workers in the Central Kentucky area.
In 2006, the clinic moved to its present site at 1306 Versailles Rd and expanded its mission to include care for the homeless and underserved community by receiving funding through the Bureau of Primary Health Care to establish itself as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). The governing Board for BCHC, Bluegrass Primary Healthcare Center, Inc. (BPHCC) is made up of more than 51% center users (patients) as mandated for all FQHCs. BCHC’s service area includes the counties of Fayette, Clark, Woodford, Scott, Jessamine, Madison, Bourbon, and Garrard. In 2008, BCHC added a second site at 151 North Eagle Creek, to provide better access for patients in southern Fayette County and eastern and southern service area counties.
Dr. Kam Garner, Former Family Physician early in the clinic’s history
Dr. Kam Garner, Former Family Physician early in the clinic’s history
In 2006, the clinic moved to its present site at 1306 Versailles Rd and expanded its mission to include care for the homeless and underserved community by receiving funding through the Bureau of Primary Health Care to establish itself as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). The governing Board for BCHC, Bluegrass Primary Healthcare Center, Inc. (BPHCC) is made up of more than 51% center users (patients) as mandated for all FQHCs. BCHC’s service area includes the counties of Fayette, Clark, Woodford, Scott, Jessamine, Madison, Bourbon, and Garrard. In 2008, BCHC added a second site at 151 North Eagle Creek, to provide better access for patients in southern Fayette County and eastern and southern service area counties.
Dr. Maria Castro, Former Family Physician at the Eagle Creek expansion site prior to leaving BCHC
Over the next 16 years, BCHC expanded to include care for newly arrived refugees to the Lexington area as well as increased services for those with mental health and substance use disorder. BCHC was accredited a Patient Centered Medical Home in 2013, the first Kentucky based health center to be so named. BCHC was also the first health center in Kentucky to be recognized for Distinction in Behavioral Health Integration. Dr. Fister retired as CEO in 2015 and the years following her departure saw continued growth of the clinic in patients as well as Outreach to sites such as New Life Day Center, a homeless day shelter in downtown Lexington, and the Bourbon County Health Department.
In 2019, Eastern Kentucky University sought to hand over total oversight of BCHC to BPHCC and on April 1, 2020, BCHC was named an independent FQHC under the governance of BPHCC. Since that time, BCHC has expanded to include two additional clinical sites, one at New Life Day Center, and the second, the first site outside of Fayette County, the Clark County School Clinic located at the Phoenix Academy in Winchester, KY. In August 2022, BCHC will open a new site in Lexington at 131 North Eagle Creek, replacing the site at 151 North Eagle Creek.
Esveyda Castillo, Former Long-time Business Manager and Administrator
Esveyda Castillo, Former Long-time Business Manager and Administrator
In 2019, Eastern Kentucky University sought to hand over total oversight of BCHC to BPHCC and on April 1, 2020, BCHC was named an independent FQHC under the governance of BPHCC. Since that time, BCHC has expanded to include two additional clinical sites, one at New Life Day Center, and the second, the first site outside of Fayette County, the Clark County School Clinic located at the Phoenix Academy in Winchester, KY. In August 2022, BCHC will open a new site in Lexington at 131 North Eagle Creek, replacing the site at 151 North Eagle Creek.