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Year In Review Quality of Life Health Services Inc. celebrated its 32nd year of operation in 2009. It was first organized as a private, nonprofit board in 1977 by Dr. Roberta O. Watts and a group of volunteers from the community. Gadsden Neighborhood Health Center (now known as the Roberta O. Watts Medical Center) opened the next year. The first medical director for the project was Dr. J.W. Stewart. Since that time, the organization has expanded to include 16 centers in nine counties by applying for and receiving additional federal funds to establish health centers in medically underserved areas. QOLHS added three new locations to its network of care in 2009: Douglas Medical Center (Marshall County), Wadley Cornerstone Clinic (Randolph County) and Dekalb Quality Health Care (Dekalb County). Quality of Life also started the new year off with an expansion of the Gadsden Family and Student Health Solutions clinic located near Adams Elementary to include a new location at Gadsden City High School. The organization also received funding to upgrade its telecommunication system, further develop electronic health records and to repair its largest facility. QOLHS also received funding to build a new medical center in Geraldine, Alabama, and construction will begin soon. “Quality of Life Health Services, Inc. was very blessed to qualify for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds, which provided $2 billion for grants to health centers. This provided a great opportunity for our organization to serve more patients and upgrade our infrastructure and facilities. There have not been any health center grants for major capital expenses in more than 10 years; therefore, we have been grateful for these funds,” said Rowe. Wayne Rowe has been chief executive officer of QOLHS for more than 28 years. Quality of Life is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, which is a process to show a commitment to quality, and has enjoyed that status since it was first accredited in 1998. Quality of Life also continued its commitment to quality community health-care education in 2009 by hosting a record number of participants at the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Forum, which featured two-time breast cancer survivor and news anchor, Brenda Ladun. Quality of Life also hosted record numbers at the sixth annual Andy Chaffin Renal Disease and Diabetes Summit and the Pastors’ Appreciation Luncheon. Quality of Life hosted the fourth annual H.O.P.E. Celebration with the East Gadsden Boys and Girls Club and participated in the 16th Annual Youth Christmas Party with the Greater Gadsden Housing Authority and the city of Gadsden Parks and Recreation. Name of agency: Quality of Life Health Services, Inc. Address of headquarters: 1411 Piedmont Cutoff, Gadsden Phone number: 492-0131 or 1-888-490-0131 CEO: Wayne C. Rowe Other key people: Dr. Deborah Smith, Chief Medical Officer; Elizabeth Hithon Hart, Executive Assistant to the C.E.O.; Anthony Gardner, Chief Financial Officer; Amelia Wofford, Planning and Development Officer; Rhonda Terrell, Operations Officer; Yvonne George, Corporate Compliance Officer; Karen Parker, Special Projects Officer; Shaftel Benson, Community Outreach Officer; and Ashley Brown, Public Relations and Marketing Director Operated by: A private, nonprofit board of directors, who serve as volunteers to give oversight to the program. Those holding leadership positions on the board are Robert Turk, president; Judge Bobby Junkins, vice president; Jean Ward, treasurer; Noble Cylar, assistant treasurer; and Tarva Vaughn, secretary. Population served: Any individual in Northeast Alabama who needs medical, dental, behavioral health, vision and eye care, X-ray, laboratory or pharmacy services. QOLHS Inc. accepts Medicare, Medicaid and most forms of private insurance. QOLHS has a sliding fee scale for patients with low income. Since QOLHS receives federal funds that constitute approximately 48 percent of the total budget of the corporation, the federal poverty guidelines (based on income and family size) act as the determination for a sliding fee scale. The network of health centers does not provide free services, but rather affordable health care and ancillary services. Services provided: Services vary from site to site. Services include pediatrics; medical services; gynecology; dental; pharmacy; eye care; patient education; laboratory; diagnostic testing; prescription assistance program; community outreach; basic behavioral health screening; substance abuse prevention education; case management; and social services. Hours of operation: All sites open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. The QOL Complex site is open until 8 p.m. Mondays.
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