8-05-2025 4:27am

Community Health & Dental Care (CHDC) Health Center to Host Health Fair

Lesley Misko Editor

by Jane Stahl

Community Health and Dental Care (CHDC), a federally-qualified health center that calls itself a “one-stop-shop for all your health care needs in the tri-county area,” will host a health fair on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, as part of National Health Center Week. Held annually, the week aims to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of the country’s health centers.

The health fair, a culmination of a weeklong celebration, will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the CHDC’s location at the Shoppes at Coventry, 351 W. Schuylkill Road in North Coventry Township, behind Boscov’s, at the former site of Ross Dress for Less.

Over 35 organizations and agencies will share health information and information about community resources and offer free health screenings for blood pressure, activities for children and adults, and give out backpacks with back-to-school items to children under age 18.

As host of the health fair, CHDC seeks to acquaint attendees with its mission and varied services. CHDC was established in 2008 with funds from local businesses and those allocated to the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation generated from the sale of Pottstown Memorial Medical Center.

The health center has been in operation at its current location since 2018. Previously, it served from Creative Health Services on Robinson Street, Pottstown.

I’d become curious about CHDC from noting signs welcoming new patients in Boyertown and Barto at former medical offices and learning that CHDC was to be featured at Boyertown’s annual Progress event.

To learn about CHDC, I met with Jenn O’Donnell, Chief Marketing & Development Officer, for an informational tour of the facility.

Its large waiting area includes plenty of in-take desks, a space for families to relax before appointments, and a designated area for children to play. I also noted a dispensary for medication.

A walking tour of the "mall hallway" showcased service areas for physical therapy, dental care, and vision, for example. The institutional feeling was humanized with greenery and mural art.

Top: Josh Williamson, with his tree buddy, and friendly dragons, showcases artistic touches to pediatric areas. Bottom: Dash, a wise old owl, serves as the health center's mascot.

As its mission, CHDC seeks opportunities to offer holistic, preventative, integrated health care, to “identify gaps in health services and ensure access to appropriate levels of care for all people in the service area regardless of their ability to pay.” CHDC states that Medicaid, Medicare and most private insurances are accepted, and for those uninsured or underinsured, a healthcare discount is applied for those who qualify.

CHDC operates at five locations: The Shoppes at Coventry (formerly Coventry Mall); Heritage OB/GYN, 700 Heritage Drive, Pottstown; and offices in Barto and Boyertown. Not all services are offered at all locations.

The health center is well-marked at its Coventry location.

Services in the Boyertown office, 6 E Philadelphia Avenue, include family medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, free transportation and healthcare discounts.

Full care and connection via tele-visits are offered for behavioral health issues, COE (Opioid Use Disorder), and for those in recovery including medically-assisted treatments.

In addition to behavioral health, services include Dental, a dispensary offering discount medication, Adult and Pediatric Medical Care, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Phlebotomy services for blood work and medical testing, Podiatry—routine and diabetic care, free transportation to and from all CHDC locations, and vision exams and lenses.

Proud of the growth of CHDC, Jenn offered that the health center added 400 new patients each month in 2024 with almost 16,000 unduplicated patients in 2024 and 27,531 registered active patients as of February 2025. Sixty-eight percent of patients are on Medicare; 30% of patients are children.

CEO Bridgette McGivern is proud of CHDC’s impressive growth and a grant award from Health Resource Service Administration (HRSA) to increase behavioral health services. The award was given to 400 health centers from a pool of 1,900 health centers in the United States.

The center is eager to introduce itself and its integrated approach to the surrounding community by participating in community events and partnering with pharmacies, businesses, nonprofits, and school districts.

Its monthly newsletter that can be found on its website ch-dc.org along with information on its social media platforms-- Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube; appearances on WFMZ; and a podcast on CHDC’s YouTube channel help to address misperceptions about services and accessibility and share CHDC’s commitment to saving time and maximizing health.

To learn more about CHDC's history and services, find a comprehensive article in 422 Business Advisor’s November 2024 edition using this link: https://www.422business.com/sites/default/files/Rt422BA_11-24_CHDC.pdf

Anyone in need of access to comprehensive, patient-centered health care services in a convenient location may find a welcoming home with CHDC. Call 610-326-9460 to schedule an appointment. And on Friday, August 8, 2025, enjoy the health fair.