Jeanie Schmidt and Loudoun Community Health Become HealthWorks Northern Virginia

The new location of HealthWorks for Northern Virginia opened last week welcoming patients in need at its new address on the third floor of 1141 Elden St.

Health Works was created when the Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic merged with Loudoun Community Health Center in 2012. JSFC was founded in Herndon in 2002.

The merger of the two organizations will allow them to triple the number of people they serve.

LCHC opened in 2006, and has provided care at two locations, in Leesburg and Sterling. The merger also allows HealthWorks to provide more types of care, including prenatal, new baby and mental health services.

Carol G. Jameson, associate CEO for HealthWorks, said the new office, tucked in the building off Elden and Alabama streets behind 7-Eleven, includes 13 exam rooms, lab space and team offices for doctors. Patient care coordinators arrange appointments and transportation for patients who need to be seen.

Nonprofit NOVA Scripts Central provides and fills patient prescriptions. A clinical pharmacist is on hand to provide guidance and compliance information to patients, who pay only a small processing fee.

Jameson said behavioral health services have been expanded and three Fairfax County staff members are on site with support from the county. A mental health worker from the community services board will be starting in June, she said.

With Reston Interfaith taking on the management of Connections for Hope, the JSFC’s last home, leaders at the organizations are working to pull similar services together in the same spaces, Jameson said. For example, WIC will be moving into the same building as HealthWorks.

The JSFC originally operated out of Herndon Middle School before moving to an office on Grove Street, and then to Connections for Hope, just south of the Town of Herndon.

“The need in Fairfax for health care is so immense,” Jameson said. She said the county has wonderful clinics that take care of a portion of the population, but the merger and opening of HealthWorks will allow the program to expand.

Previously, JSFC treated children, as well as adults with high blood pressure and diabetes in need. Now the organization will be able to provide more health care resources in Herndon.

Jameson said the new building is owned by the owners of Amphora, and they have been very responsive to their needs. “We’re very fortunate to have them as partners,” she said.

Volunteers are still very much a part of the organization, and those wishing to get involved can speak with the volunteer coordinator by calling 703-481-8160. “We’re here to help the community,” Jameson said.

Jameson said there’s also opportunities for local businesses and individuals to be partners by adopting meeting rooms or exam rooms.

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