Trying to tell the difference between what expected behaviors are and what might be the signs of a mental illness isn’t always easy. There’s no easy test that can let someone know if there is mental illness or if actions and thoughts might be typical behaviors of a person or the result of a physical illness. Each illness has its own symptoms, but common signs of mental illness in adults and adolescents can include the following: Excessive worrying or fear Feeling excessively sad or low Confused thinking or problems concentrating and learning Extreme mood changes, including uncontrollable “hig ..read more

Florida Community Health Centers is operates three full-service in-house pharmacies conveniently located in Fort Pierce, Okeechobee, Clewiston and soon– Port St. Lucie. Our pharmacies are staffed with highly qualified pharmacists and a bilingual pharmacy support staff who strive to meet your needs. We provide a high level of support to patients who cannot afford their medications, patients who have conditions that require many different medications, and patients who have limited transportation. Let FCHC pharmacies be your pharmacy of choice. Florida Community Health Center pharmacies particip ..read more

Heart health is of the utmost importance for the overall well-being and longevity of individuals. Poor heart health can lead to various illnesses, such as coronary heart disease and stroke, which can be life-threatening. Taking care of the heart through a healthy lifestyle and regular check-ups can help to reduce the risk of these illnesses and ensure long-term good health. One of the most important ways to maintain good heart health is to follow a balanced, nutritious diet. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can help to reduce cholesterol levels and ke ..read more

Care Management is a team-based, patient-centered approach, which is designed to assist our patients and their support systems in managing medical conditions more effectively. Here at Florida Community Health Center we take pride in offering an effective program to help improve disease control and self-management, reduce distress, prevent admissions or readmissions, and improve the coordination of care for all of our patients’ regardless of the complexity of health. Care management means a set of patient-centered, goal-oriented, culturally relevant and logical steps to assure that the patient ..read more

Health Benefit Coordinators (HBCs) are included in team-based care and perform the following: FCHC Outreach & Enrollment Enroll in Medicaid benefits Enroll in Food Stamp benefits Enroll in Kidcare benefits Enroll in Market Place benefits Enroll in Prescription Drug Assistant Join health fairs that are targeting these communities Provide mobile services that include primary care, Covid vaccinations and rapid HIV testing Conduct health screenings for blood pressure and glucose Join Health Education seminars to present and help provide education on different health needs i.e. vaccine hesitan ..read more

Dos and Don’ts of Medication Management Medication management is an important part in the treatment of many diseases and conditions. However, if not used or managed correctly, medications can cause harm if a patient is given the wrong dose or given to the wrong patient. Medication management is not just the clinician, nurse, pharmacist or medical assistant’s responsibility; it is also the responsibility of the patient or caregiver as well. Here are some simple dos and don’ts for all parties involved in medication management. Do Identify medications that are high-alert medications (i.e. warfar ..read more

What is Diabetes and Hemoglobin A1c Good Control? Diabetes is a problem with your body that causes blood glucose (also called blood sugar) levels to rise higher than normal. This is also called hyperglycemia. When you eat, your body breaks food down into glucose and sends it into the blood. Insulin then helps move the glucose from the blood into your cells. When glucose enters your cells, it is either used as fuel for energy right away or stored for later use. In a person with diabetes, there is a problem with insulin. But, not everyone with diabetes has the same problem. There are different t ..read more

There are many causes of low birth weight in the newborn. Why do we worry? We want your newborn to be born healthy and not have complications after delivery. Causes of low birth weight Genetic abnormalities; Fetal infections: Infections such as Cytomegalovirus and toxoplasmosis are two very common causes, as well as German Measles, chickenpox, herpes. This is why we encourage you to be up to date with all your vaccines prior to becoming pregnant and not changing the Kitty litter during pregnancy. Multiple gestation: Twins have to share the space so there is just not as much room for two to gro ..read more

Oral health is more important than you might think. Problems in the mouth can affect the rest of your body and keeping a clean, healthy mouth can keep bacteria under control. Without the proper home care (brushing two times a day, and flossing once a day), bacteria can reach levels that cause infections, tooth decay, and/or gum disease. Regular dental check ups can ensure that you have great oral health. Some medical conditions like diabetes, HIV/AIDS, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease are linked with your oral health. Dentists may be able to suspect a disease and refer you to your primary ..read more