Progressive Community Health Centers began operating in 1999 the Westside Healthcare Association (WHA) in a clinic previously occupied by the Rainbow Health Center. Rainbow, a community health center (CHC), was forced to close by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) due to financial issues. Rainbow’s closing meant thousands of vulnerable individuals would lose access to affordable health care services in their Milwaukee neighborhood. Recognizing the need for quality health care in his community, district assemblyman Antonio Riley began talks of collaboration with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) to keep the clinic operational. MCW began staffing the clinic, which is now known as the Lisbon Avenue Health Center, while Riley worked on details for future funding and administration.
Initially, the Lisbon clinic was administered under a grant from neighboring Sixteenth Street Community Health Center. Ongoing negotiations for Milwaukee Health Services, yet another CHC, to take over long-term administration of the clinic eventually fell through. In 2000, WHA submitted a proposal to HRSA in hopes that the Lisbon clinic would receive funding to operate as an independent federally qualified health center (FQHC). The grant was awarded and Westside Healthcare Association was born.
MCW staff continued to work under contract with WHA and the clinic gradually began to hire its own providers.Recognizing the need for quality health care in his community, district assemblyman Antonio Riley began talks of collaboration with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) to keep the clinic operational.
By the time the current CEO, Jenni Sevenich, started in 2005, about half of WHA’s providers were contracted. Today, every WHA provider is directly employed by the organization. Fortunately, the clinic maintains a good working relationship with both MCW and its academic medical center, Froedtert Hospital.
In 2003, a grant from a vitamin settlement was used to build the dental facilities on the second floor of the Lisbon Avenue Health Center. Additional space at the clinic was renovated to accommodate pediatric services, forcing the administrative offices to move offsite.
In 2004, a clinic in Milwaukee’s Hillside neighborhood had recently closed because of financial reasons. The clinic was located in a resource center operated by the Housing Authority. WHA decided to take over operations of the Hillside clinic in an effort to increase access to health care services in the area. In December 2005, WHA received funding from HRSA to establish its second clinic, the Hillside Family Health Center.
WHA has made great progress since its founding nearly two decades ago, adding staff, services and locations. WHA has made great progress since its founding nearly a two decades ago.
Comprehensive case management and financial counseling services are also offered.
With such unprecedented growth, WHA ran short on space. A 42, 000 square-foot facility was constructed, to more than double capacity, accomodating upwards of 11,000 new patients each year. Planning for our new home, ultimately increasing access to health care for more vulnerable people in Milwaukee.
*Visit Volumes will more than double to over 60,000 by FY2017
*Clinical space will grow by 150%
-24 primary care suites
-6 OB/GYN suites
-13 Dental suites
*We will add more than 35 new full-time positions to our staff.
Our new home will also feature a health education center, diagnostic radiology and integrated behavioral health services. Additionally, administrative offices will be relocated to the new building.
