PCCE- Juniata College VISTA

Juniata College aims to work with Broad Top Area Medical Center (BTAMC) to build capacity for providing accessible, high-quality healthcare to underserved populations in Huntingdon County, with a focus on health access for all. BTAMC is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). FQHC's are nonprofit health centers that receive funding from the U.S. federal government and are designed to ensure that individuals, particularly those who are uninsured or underinsured, have access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. With this project, BTAMC specifically seeks to expand access to preventive and restorative dental care, ensuring that all residents, regardless of income, can receive the services they need. The project is anchored in addressing the social determinants of health (SDOH), specifically Health Care Access and Quality, one of the five key SDOH recognized by the CDC. BTAMC has a foundation of primary healthcare services and is now focused on expanding dental services, with the goal of providing care within a 20-minute drive of every resident in the county. This includes increasing service capacity, enhancing outreach efforts, and ensuring low-income and uninsured individuals have access to essential dental care. Huntingdon County faces significant health disparities, especially in dental care access.