The public announcement that Ascension St. Vincent’s Dunn Hospital and related offices will close in December may have created concern about current and long-term available health care services in the region, particularly for obstetrics services that include prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal/well-baby services.

Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC) has effectively served patients, families, and communities for nearly 50 years, which has included families in the Bedford and greater Lawrence County region. SICHC holds a positive history of meeting the needs of patients in the region, and that commitment will continue. With its status as a certified Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), SICHC physicians, providers, and staff deliver high-quality, affordable and accessible primary care, obstetrics, integrated mental health, and other comprehensive services to people through its current offices in Orange, Crawford, Martin and Washington counties.

SICHC’s professional provider staff includes board-certified family physicians. In addition to providing comprehensive care through its own facilities, SICHC maintains positive relationships with regional hospitals and clinics to provide specialty care and referrals.

Using a team model for health care delivery, SICHC reflects a faith-based mission of delivering services based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Its FQHC status ensures SICHC’s commitment and capacity to serving as a “safety net” for healthcare

services, helping to safeguard the inclusion of low-income populations to receive high-quality service on an equitable basis. This long-time commitment will continue.