Detailed Introduction
The Christopher Rural Health Planning Corporation (CRHPC), also known as Christopher (Greater Area) Rural Health Planning Corporation, is a well-established non-profit organization that has been serving the medically underserved rural populations of Southern Illinois since 1979. Their core mission is to plan, promote, and develop a primary healthcare system that ensures accessible, comprehensive, and high-quality healthcare for all individuals within the community.
CRHPC operates as a Federally Qualified Rural Health Clinic (FQHC), which signifies their commitment to providing care to all, irrespective of race, creed, sex, national origin, handicap, age, or ability to pay. They offer a sliding fee scale based on income and family size to provide significant discounts to those with limited financial resources, and accept various forms of payment including private insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare.
The organization offers a broad spectrum of services designed to meet the diverse healthcare needs of the community. These include:
Primary Medical Care: Family practice, internal medicine, and pediatrics.
Dental Services: General dentistry with a focus on prevention.
Behavioral Health: Counseling, medication-assisted therapy, and treatment for substance use disorders, including detox services.
Pharmacy Services: In-house pharmacies, often dispensing 340B pharmaceuticals.
Ancillary Services: Laboratory, radiology (offered by Cedar Court Imaging), diabetic & nutrition services, and support services like case management and PrEP navigation.
CRHPC is governed by an eleven-member volunteer Board of Directors, with over 51% of the board members being individuals who are served by their centers, ensuring community representation and a strong fiduciary responsibility. They have multiple community health centers and satellite sites across Southern Illinois, including locations in Christopher, Benton, Carrier Mills, Fairfield, Du Quoin, Sesser (which previously had a dental clinic and community health center affiliated with CRHPC), and Shawneetown. While Jeffrey Minor is listed as a contact, the organization itself is a broad network of clinics.
CRHPC emphasizes patient-centered care, offering convenient services such as same-day appointments/walk-ins, after-hours care via a 24-hour answering service, and even video visits. They are a member of the National Health Service Corps, further solidifying their dedication to providing care in underserved areas.
