Lincoln Community Health Center Inc. (LCHC) is a Federally-Qualified Health Center (FQHC) operating in Durham, NC since September 1971. It was founded by Charles DeWitt Watts, Sr., MD, FACS. He understood the federal grant process and felt that the spirit of Lincoln Hospital could continue in the form of a health center. The Center began in the basement of the Lincoln Hospital that was built out of a great need to take care of the many under-served residents of Durham County, who, because of racial inequality, could not be treated at the other hospitals in the community. The creation of the Center was deeply influenced by the mission of the Hospital and significantly expanded outpatient services to provide medical help to the poor. Accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC) since 1987, LCHC attained Patient Care Medical Home (PCMH) certification in 2012.
LCHC provides primary healthcare services: adult and family medicine, pediatrics, dental, behavioral health, laboratory, radiology, and pharmacy. In order to mitigate the impact of social determinants of health, Lincoln provides transportation, translation, health education, nutrition counseling, outreach, eligibility assistance, care coordination and patient support groups.
Lincoln proudly operates the following satellite sites for primary health care: A Wellness Center at Hillside High School; a Healthcare for the Homeless Clinic at the Community Shelter for Hope; Walltown, Lyon Park, and Holton Clinics, and Just for Us which provides medical care to homebound elderly - in collaboration with Duke Division of Community Health, Department of Community and Family Medicine; an Early Intervention Clinic for patients with HIV/AIDS and a Primary Care Clinic, both located at the Durham County Human Services building; a Primary Care Clinic at Live Well office complex; and an integrated medical services clinic at the Durham Recovery Response Center, a behavioral health crisis center.
LCHC is the agency for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program for Durham County. The three WIC locations include an office at the main Lincoln site, the Durham County Human Services building, and the Live Well office complex.
Lincoln Community Health Center, Inc. collaborates with community partners to provide accessible, high-quality, comprehensive care to the most vulnerable persons in order to move the needle towards a reduction in health disparities.
