The significant health care challenges facing Franklin County make the new Crider Health Center in Union vital to the community.
“This new health center will be a vital resource in our community and we are proud of the progress we are making toward the health of our residents,” said Franklin County Presiding Commissioner Ed Hillhouse.
Currently, only 12 pediatricians serve Franklin County, making it a highly underserved area. 1 A staggering 22 percent of the population (22,400) is on Medicaid or uninsured.2 Because this is such a medically neglected area, many children live without the basic health care they need. One example that illustrates the critical need is that children without health insurance in Franklin and adjacent counties are 180 percent more likely to be hospitalized for pediatric asthma than those who are privately insured.3
“Crider is taking steps to address a growing problem by providing pediatrics to residents who are on Medicaid or are uninsured in addition to accepting private insurance,” said Greg Roeback, Vice President of Integrated Care at Crider Health Center, who is overseeing the project in Union.
Currently, Crider operates an outpatient behavioral health clinic in Washington, Mo. Relocating this clinic to Union will enable Crider to serve current patients better and accept new patients.
In addition to pediatrics and psychiatry, Crider has plans to offer dental services in Union. The current Crider dental offices in Washington will be relocated to the new Union location within the next several months. Statistics show that low-income children have twice the prevalence of tooth decay as children from higher income households, and their disease is more likely to go untreated. 4 Crider’s new Union location will continue to treat underinsured children who would not otherwise have access to dental services.
About the New Staff at Crider Health Center-Union:
Julianne Matt, MD, FAAP
Dr. Matt has been a pediatrician for more than 11 years. She received her BA from Washington University and later went on to receive her MD from St. Louis University School of Medicine in 1995. She completed her pediatric residency at the University of Michigan and has been practicing pediatrics in Washington, Mo. since 1998.
Michele L. Niemczyk, DO
Dr. Niemczyk has been a pediatrician for more than five years. She received her BA from Central Methodist College and later received her DO from Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine in Pikeville, Ky. in 2002. She completed her pediatric residency at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Ill. and has been practicing pediatrics in Washington, Mo. since 2005.
Mary Beth King, PA
Mary Beth King received her MS from St. Louis University and has been a physician’s assistant for more than a year. Her previous experience includes working as a physician’s assistant, with clinical rotations in pediatrics, emergency medicine and surgery. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
Jeanne Niehaus, MSN, FNP, AP/MHCNS BC
Jeanne Niehaus received her nursing degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Barnes College of Nursing in 2003 and has been a board-certified family nurse practitioner since then. She obtained her post-graduate certificate as an Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist in 2006.
Other staff at the new facility will include psychiatrists currently seeing patients at Crider’s Washington office: Dr. James Byrd, Dr. Sridevi Gavirnani, Dr. Michael Kent, Dr. Syed Mumtaz and Dr. Praveen Nimmagadda. Dr. Dustin Mace will continue his dental practice in the new Union location as well.
About Crider Health Center: Crider Health Center is a non-profit organization that has provided mental health services since 1979. In 2007, Crider Center became a Federally Qualified Health Center and is now providing primary health, dental and pediatric services to individuals in St. Charles, Franklin, Lincoln and Warren Counties who have no health insurance, are underinsured, or have an income at or below poverty level. Crider’s vision is full, productive, healthy lives for everyone.
For additional information about Crider Health Center or to make an appointment please visit www.cridercenter.org or call 636-332-6000.
