Editor’s note: This story originally appeared in the “Progress 2014” section of North Country This Week.

Community Health Center of the North Country (CHCNC) now has three federally qualified health centers; Canton, Malone, and most recently Gouverneur.

As federally qualified health centers they provide quality, affordable primary and preventative care services including physical therapy, counseling, dental and optometry services to residents of Northern New York regardless of a person’s ablility to pay and offer a sliding fee scale based on a patients family size and income along with accepting most commerical insurances making affordable health care their business.

In October of 2013 CHCNC reached a large milestone. To help fill the health care void after E.J. Noble Hospital closed, CHCNC opened up an additional Primary Care Center in the now Gouverneur Hospital. Currently staffed with six clinicians; specializing in Internal (Adult) Medicine, Family Practice and Pediatrics.

2013 marked the end of Doris Chenier’s 27 year career at the agency; the last 15 year as Executive Director. Doris handed the reins to Anne Richey, then Associate Director.

Richey, a Harrisville native and longtime resident of Canton with her husband John and son Benjamin, plans to continue the road to growth as did both Lorraine Laurin (the agencies first Executive Director) and Chenier. Richey earned both her Bachelor and Master degrees from State University at Potsdam. She joined CP of the North Country in 1985 and has served as the Associate Director since 2004; devoting the last 28 years to human services, it was a perfect fit.

“I have had the privilege of learning under the leadership of both Doris Chenier and Lorraine Laurin as CP of the North Country has grown over the years to serve the needs of the community. The organization cares deeply about not only the services we provide, but our employees as well. I am grateful to our Board of Directors for its support and our employees for their dedication. I look forward to continuing the mission of CP of the North Country with them,” said Richey.

CHCNC also launched a new website in 2013, www.chcnorthcountry.org, that features a patient portal; which allows patients to access their health care information in the comfort and privacy of their own home 24 hours a day. The patient portal allows patients to schedule and keep track of appointments, receive and view latest lab results, request prescription refills, view personal health records, receive educational material and receive preventative care reminders.

Community Health Center of the North Country, operated by Cerebral Palsy Association of the North Country; but is open to the public. Providing services in St. Lawrence, Franklin and Jefferson Counties they currently offer primary care, dental services, optometry, counseling, pediatric evaluations, cancer screenings, orthopedic evaluations, physical therapy (some services depend on service area). Accepting most commercial insurances, Medicaid, Medicare, Child & Family Health Plus, along with self-pay. Case management services are available to patients who need assistance.

For more information about Community Health Center of the North Country visit www.chcnorthcountry.org. The Canton clinic is located at 4 Commerce Lane or call 315-386-8191, the Gouverneur clinic is located at 77 W. Barney Street or call 315-287-4440 and the Malone clinic is located at 380 County Route 51 or call 518-483-0109.