In 1986, Joanne Cochran, Keystone’s President and CEO, co-founded the center to provide health care to the migrant agricultural workers in Franklin County. At that time Keystone was comprised of three volunteers providing part-time seasonal health care to migrant agricultural workers in Franklin County and saw 500 patients during its first season.
Today, Keystone Health has more than 540 employees and sees over 59,000 patients annually.
Keystone Health is the only federally-qualified Community Health Center serving Franklin County. Community Health Centers are characterized by five essential elements that differentiate them from other providers:
- They must be located in or serve a high need community, i.e. “medically underserved areas” or “medically underserved populations”
- They must provide comprehensive primary care services as well as supportive services such as translation and transportation services that promote access to health care
- Their services must be available to all residents of their service areas, with fees adjusted upon patients’ ability to pay-no one is turned away due to inability to pay
- They must be governed by a community board with a majority of members being health center patients
- They must meet other performance and accountability requirements regarding their administrative, clinical, and financial operations
To learn more about Federally Qualified Health Centers, and how they are different from other doctor’s offices, click here.
1986
Keystone is co-founded by Joanne Cochran to provide health care to migrant farm workers in Franklin County.
1992
The Board expands the mission to include providing care to all residents of the area, regardless of ability to pay. Rural Health Clinic status is obtained and the corporation name is changed to Keystone Rural Health Center. A full-time, year-round family practice known as Keystone Health Center opens at 1331 S. Seventh Street. The low-income and uninsured residents of Franklin County now have access to primary care and auxiliary services.
Keystone’s status is elevated to Federally Qualified Health Center for Medicare recipients and shortly thereafter for Medicaid recipients, which enables Keystone to receive cost reimbursement for patients receiving public insurances.
1994
Mrs. Cochran obtains Medically Underserved Population status for the low income of Franklin County and Health Professional Shortage Area status for Franklin County, making Keystone eligible to hire National Health Service Corp doctors, highly qualified physicians who chose to work in areas where doctors are needed in exchange for help from the government in repaying their education loans.
Keystone receives the additional designation of Community Health Center, making the health center eligible to apply for Public Health Service grants.
1995
Because the family providers see that the lack of dental care is impacting the health of uninsured patients, Keystone opens its dental practice, now called Keystone Dental Care.
1996
Keystone becomes the administrator of the statewide migrant farmworker grant and contracts with healthcare providers to ensure that migrants across the state have access to care.
Keystone receives a state grant to provide HIV/AIDS services in Franklin County, and in 1997 receives a state grant to provide the same services to migrants across Pennsylvania.
Because the health center has outgrown the leased 1331 S. Seventh Street location, Keystone conducts a Capital Campaign to raise funds to build the 820 Fifth Avenue facility. The facility is completed in 1998.
1999
When two local gynecologists announce their upcoming retirements, Keystone acquires their practice, adding obstetrical services and later renaming the practice as Keystone Women’s Care.
2001
Keystone offers its patients discounted pharmaceuticals through the Federal 340B Drug Pricing Program.
Keystone volunteers to undergo a Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations three-day on-site survey and earns full accreditation.
2003
Because the Summit Health-owned Franklin County Pediatrics needs additional pediatricians, Keystone acquires the practice so that National Health Service Corp pediatricians can be hired.
Keystone purchases the condo which houses the growing Keystone Dental Care.
2004
When a local cardiology practice announces it will disband, Keystone opens the Franklin County Heart Center to ensure that cardiology services will be available in the community. Because this is a specialty practice and not part of the Federally Qualified Health Center, a wholly-owned subsidiary, Keystone Physician Services, is formed. The opening of the practice brings the first interventional cardiologists to Franklin County.
When Cumberland Valley Mental Health Services (CVMHS) closes, Keystone expands its behavioral health services by hiring additional therapists and two psychiatrists. Keystone also takes over the Crisis Intervention Program that was operated by CVMHS.
Keystone undergoes its second Joint Commission survey and is reaccredited.
Keystone adds two internal medicine physicians to its staff.
2006
Keystone celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Administrative services are consolidated in one location, the newly built Summit-Keystone Pavilion. Several practices move into larger offices to accommodate the growing number of patients: Keystone Women’s Care and Franklin County Heart Center move to offices in the Pavilion. Franklin County Pediatrics moves into the Summit Health Center.
2007
Keystone’s internal medicine physicians separate from Keystone Family Medicine and move into a suite in the Summit Keystone Pavilion forming a new practice called Keystone Internal Medicine.
Keystone is accredited again by The Joint Commission for a three-year period.
2008
Keystone Family Medicine begins using a scheduling model that allows patients to schedule any appointment within 24 hours.
2009
Keystone Health receives three grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to increase staffing at Franklin County Pediatrics, expand the Keystone Behavioral Health and Keystone Dental Care facilities, and construct a new building.
2010
Keystone Health expands the federal 340B discounted pharmaceuticals program to include more participating pharmacies across Franklin County.
Keystone practices begin using Electronic Health Records.
Keystone is reaccredited by The Joint Commission for a three-year period.
The ARRA-funded expansion of the Keystone Dental Care facility is completed, adding five treatment rooms for a total of eighteen.
2011
Keystone celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Franklin County Heart Center becomes part of the Federally Qualified Health Center and Keystone Physician Services, the wholly-owned subsidiary, is made inactive.
The ARRA-funded expansion of the Keystone Behavioral Health facility is completed, adding treatment rooms and a group therapy room.
The new building at 830 Fifth Avenue is completed. Keystone Internal Medicine, Keystone Women’s Care, and Keystone Pediatrics are relocated to the new building. Construction of the new facility was funded by an ARRA grant.
Keystone Pharmacy opens in September in the new building.
Keystone Walk-In Care opens in November in the new building.
2012
The year began with administration requesting that the mission statement be revised to more accurately reflect Keystone’s role in the community. The mission statement was revised to the following: Keystone Health improves the health and quality of life of the people and communities we serve.
Keystone received $977, 500 dollars from the government related to its meeting the Meaningful Use criteria noted in the implementation of the Electronic Medical Record. These dollars help to defray the cost of the Electronic Medical Record which was implemented throughout all the practices of Keystone.
USG (United Solutions Group) and Keystone signed a two year contract. Effective in June 2012, USG became Keystone’s contracted IT department and service. Keystone will no longer have its own IT operated department.
Concomitantly, Keystone reorganized its purchasing and facility functions into two separate departments with new leadership at the head of each department.
The Dental practice implemented its Electronic Dental Health Record in June of 2012 and appears to be an improvement with the delivery of dental care.
Keystone hired its first Child/Adolescent psychiatrist and opened its Infectious Disease Practice with the joining of two new providers to the Keystone system.
Keystone also relocated it HIV program (previously located at 820 Fifth Avenue) into the Infectious Diseases Program located at the 830 Cochran Professional Center.
In July of 2012, Franklin County was included in the list of counties in the Commonwealth that are in mandated managed care for all primary care services. Previously only behavioral health services in Franklin County were in mandated managed care. This will cause a shift of patients into newly designated managed care health management organizations.
Keystone hired a Public Relations Coordinator who will promote the Keystone practices throughout the community.
Keystone was the recipient of a Patient Centered Medical Home that will be implemented at Keystone Family Medicine during the upcoming year.
2013
In early 2013, Keystone hired a consultant to begin the process of transitioning to the Patient Centered Medical Home delivery model of care. This model provides a way of organizing primary care that emphasizes care coordination to transform primary care into “what patients want it to be”. Medical homes can lead to higher quality and lower costs, and can improve patients’ and providers’ experience of care.
Keystone Board approved Keystone adding Keystone Audiology and Speech to the scope of services offered, and in July, these services opened at 820 Fifth Avenue.
Joint Commission visited Keystone for its triennial survey in late May 2013, which resulted in three years of certification as a Joint Commission approved health center.
In July, Keystone is notified that is the recipient of an Outreach and Enrollment grant from Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, and another for Outreach and Enrollment from HRSA. Keystone used these dollars to hire 11 Navigators to educate and enroll eligible individuals in Franklin County into Medicaid, CHIP and the State Marketplace Insurance plans. Keystone then went on to open Outreach and Enrollment sites in Greencastle, Chambersburg and Waynesboro.
2014
In March of 2014, Keystone Walk in Care became Keystone Urgent Care, and expanded its hours to 12 hours daily to better suit the needs of the community.
Dr. Michael Colli (Pediatrician and medical director of Keystone Pediatrics) was appointed to the position of Chief Medical Officer of Keystone Health effective July 1, 2014, and Dr. Kawish Garg was appointed to the position of medical director of Keystone Behavioral Medicine.
In August, Keystone opened its first STD clinic at Keystone Family Medicine.
In October, Keystone was contacted by Family Health Council of Southcentral Pa to determine interest in offering Family Planning Services. In previous years, Keystone had contracted to provide these services. With Family Planning of Chambersburg closing its doors, there was no access to family planning services in Franklin County. Keystone agreed to provide family planning services to begin around the February 2015 timeframe, and will be held in conjunction with the STD program clinics.
Also during October, Keystone offered a Free Vision Clinic, and thirty patients received free eye exams and glasses.
In December, Dr. Jason Galicia was appointed as Medical Director of Keystone Internal Medicine.
Also in December, Keystone Behavioral Health (Dr. Jagdeep Kaur) began to offer MAT (Medication Assisted Therapy) to help combat the Opioid Crisis.
2015
The year started with Governor Wolf expanding Medicaid using the Affordable Care Act and terminating “Healthy Pa.” This affected many of Keystone’s patients and the community as a whole.
In February, Public Health Hygienists were placed at Keystone Pediatrics to perform dental screenings on site.
Keystone started providing Family Planning Services to the community at the location of Keystone Family Medicine. Dr. Yvette Brown was named Medical Director of STD and Family Planning Programs.
Keystone Pediatrics opens its own Walk In Program.
Keystone was awarded a $1 million dollar HRSA grant to expand dental by 10 operatories to equal 28 operatories in total.
2016
In March, Keystone began working with Edlantis, an occupational and speech therapy service program located at the School for Veterans Children in Scotland, and in May, Keystone took over this program under the name of Keystone Pediatric Therapies. Also in March, Keystone received a HRSA S-BIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment) grant and began screening its patients for drug and alcohol usage.
Keystone Pediatrics opened a satellite office in Waynesboro, PA in July of this year, with 3 Pediatricians and 1 CRNP staffing the practice.
Keystone Internal Medicine and Keystone Family Medicine begin offering IRIS scans to diabetic patients.
Mid-year, Keystone signed a contract providing behavioral health services to children and their families, through the Over the Rainbow community program.
Through a $1 million federal grant, Keystone began expanding its dental office to accommodate new providers including a pediatric dentist who began in August.
In the summer of 2016, Keystone developed a STD, HIV/AIDS, Healthy Woman, Outreach and Enrollment site located at 455 Lincoln Way East, and Keystone underwent is triennial Joint Commission survey and the outcome was that Keystone received accreditation from the Ambulatory Care Division.
Keystone Infectious Disease added two physicians during the summer and early fall, totaling three ID physicians to cover both Keystone and Chambersburg Hospital.
In September, Keystone opened its first school-based clinic at CASHS with staffing for four hours during school hours.
2017
In January of 2017, Keystone underwent an Office of the Inspector General Audit that HRSA mandated for all FQHCs. Keystone passed the audit with no deficiencies. Keystone also underwent its 340B audit and passed that audit with no deficiencies. Also, Keystone Internal Medicine developed a Coumadin program for all Keystone patients. Point of service testing is now available for our patients.
In July, Dr. John Palm DDS joined Keystone along with his staff, and became the Dental Director of Keystone Dental Care.
Keystone purchased A1C machines for our primary care practices, allowing our low-income patients to obtain regular testing so they can better control their diabetes.
The President declared the USA is in a National Opioid Crisis. A Keystone Crisis worker is now working with police departments by accompanying them to emergency crisis calls involving patients with mental health issues. This Crisis worker diffuses the situation and gets the individual the help he/she may need from the health system, not the criminal system.
Keystone Women’s Care (Dr. Orndorf) began to provide MAT (Medication Assisted Therapy) to deal with the Opioid Crisis.
In December, Keystone received Level 3 Patient Centered Medical Home recognition from NCQA for Keystone Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and HIV. Cardiology was deleted from Keystone’s Scope of Services.
2018
In February, Keystone collaborated with Franklin County Head Start by placing a Head Start social worker to be placed within our Keystone Women’s Care office in order to register pregnant mothers into the Head Start program for the many advantages of early childhood intervention through Head Start programming. The program allows for mothers to begin participating in beneficial programs earlier, thus allowing them to reap more benefits available to both the mother and child.
In early May, Keystone relocated its behavioral health program into a newly built facility at 110 Chambers Hill. Keystone celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony that same month with many community and state representatives present.
In June, Keystone underwent its Operational Site Review with HRSA. Keystone was found to have no deficiencies, which was an outstanding outcome.
In July, Keystone’s Community Responder Program obtained national recognition for its work with police departments in diverting individuals from jail to treatment centers. Also in July, Keystone broke ground for a new health center to be built on the corner of Norland and Fifth Avenues in Chambersburg. The building will house Keystone’s administration department, Keystone Urgent Care (relocating from 830 Fifth Ave), Keystone Pediatric Therapies (relocating from Scotland Ave), Keystone Pediatric Dentistry, Keystone Community Outreach (HIV/STD program, Family Planning and Infectious Disease services.
Also in 2018, Keystone began to use TMS, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, in our Behavioral Health office for patients suffering from major depressive disorder.
2019
In May, Joint Commission visited Keystone Health. Keystone received continued accreditation.
In June, HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) visited Keystone for our Federal Tort Claims Act Review (FTCA). Keystone did quite well.
Also in early 2019, Keystone adopted Solution Reach, a platform that will enhance patient access and reputation management. Two way text based schedule requests and reminders are available for patients through the platform. This will allow for patients to confirm or reschedule appointments by text, and will also ask patients to complete post-visit surveys.
In July, Keystone Health acquired two new local practices: Keystone Foot and Ankle Center and Keystone Chiropractic (formerly Susquehanna Chiropractic).
Keystone received a grant from HRSA for Substance Abuse and Mental Health and part of the grant was slated for renovations at the Keystone Family Medicine practice, located at 820 Fifth Avenue. The renovation allowed for 12 additional exam rooms for primary care providers who will be providing Medication Assisted Treatment.
In October of 2019, Keystone opened its newest facility at 111 Chambers Hill Drive, in Chambersburg. The facility houses Keystone Urgent Care, Keystone Pediatric Developmental Center (formerly Keystone Pediatric Therapies and Keystone Audiology and Speech) Keystone Infectious Diseases, Keystone Community Health Services (HIV/STD services and family planning) Keystone Pediatric Dental, and the Keystone Administration offices.
In late 2019, the Keystone board approved the purchase of three lots on a 4.21 acre property in Waynesboro. Keystone plans to use this for future expansion which may include family medicine, dental and behavioral health in the greater Waynesboro community.
2020
2020 began like most other years, with our navigators being introduced to the Marketplace Medicare Insurance Plan as a service to offer our community in addition to Medicaid and CHIP.
Keystone was awarded the Agency Partner Award from Franklin Together Re-Entry Coalition for its work in assisting formerly incarcerated individuals reintegrating back into the community,
In March, Keystone received its report related to clinical data which showed that Keystone had improved in immunization and cancer screenings, asthma, colorectal cancer, coronary artery disease and lipid therapy along with improvements in administering dental sealants.
In late March, our community began to see the beginnings of COVID-19 impacting our community and our practices.
In early April Keystone began screening all patients and employees. By mid-April, Keystone set up testing sites for our patients and community residents. Keystone worked to develop new ways of treating patients as well as many others from the community seeking testing.
In mid-April there were 5,805 cases of COVID in Pennsylvania and 21 cases in Franklin County. Also in April, Keystone began offering telehealth appointments at most of its practices as a way for patients to access care without being seen in the office.
In June, Dr. and Congressman John Joyce visited Keystone.
November brought a new home for Keystone’s Agricultural Worker Program- 3375 Carlisle Road in Gardners, PA.
Also in November, Keystone received Patient Medical Home Status (PCMH) for another three years for Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine and the HIV Program.
In late December, Keystone vaccinated its first employee with the COVID-19 vaccine.
2021
Unfortunately, 2021 was a continuation of 2020 regarding COVID-19. However, there was one significant change—we now had a vaccine to combat the pandemic. Keystone began vaccinating healthcare workers in late 2020/early 2021.
In February, Keystone’s focus began to shift from testing to vaccinating. Tier 1A vaccination began for individuals 65 and older and those with BMI >30.
March saw falling numbers in COVID cases, and Keystone began to open vaccinations to the community. Also in March, Keystone developed a Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
In April, the Keystone Pharmacy began a prescription delivery program for patients.
In June, Keystone’s long time Board Chairman Sam King resigned after over 30 years on Keystone’s board of directors.
In July, Keystone Health made the decision to increase minimum wage for employees to $15 per hour.
In November, Keystone began providing a third doses (booster doses), as well as monoclonal antibody therapy for those infected by COVID. Keystone was the only provider of this IV therapy in Chambersburg.
2022
The year began with a surge of the Omicron variant of COVID. Keystone once again did its part to keep our community healthy by administering vaccines and booster doses, and also hosted a drive-thru distribution event of masks and at-home tests.
By spring, COVID numbers were declining and Keystone could begin to focus on other efforts. In response to the need for nurses in our community, Keystone provided tuition assistance for seven LPN students enrolled in the Franklin County Practical Nursing Program. Students were eligible for up to $16,000 in scholarship funds in exchange for working at Keystone upon graduation.
In another effort to meet the needs of our community, Keystone began to develop a program to train medical assistants to become community health workers. These employees will be trained to do home visits for our patients who have difficulty getting to our offices, especially our elderly patients. They will assist with medication management, facilitating telehealth visits with the patients’ medical providers, obtaining vitals, and more.
In July, Keystone reopened its Pediatric Dental practice which had been closed due to COVID as well as a lack of providers. Feedback from patients was positive, and Keystone was glad to once again provide this specialty service. Also this month The Health Resources & Services Administration conducted Keystone’s tri-annual Operational Performance Review. No deficiencies were found and Keystone was given high marks in all areas. Weeks later, Joint Commission arrived at Keystone Health for its unannounced tri-annual survey. Keystone performed very well and was given full accreditation.
Construction began at 100 Chambers Hill Drive, a 35,000 square feet, two-story facility which will house Chiropractic, Foot and Ankle, a Behavioral Health extension, and a vaccine and education center. Keystone also hosted its annual Diabetes Fair, which had been on hiatus since 2019. The fair was open to the public and 80 community members received vitals, BMI screenings, foot and eye exams, education, healthy cooking lessons, resources, and more.
Through all of the challenges of 2022, Keystone emerged stronger. Thanks to the dedication of our hard-working team, we continue to grow and expand in order to meet our community’s needs.
2023
This year presented some exciting expansion opportunities. LEECOM Osteopathic Medical School, WellSpan Family Medicine and Dental Residency Programs, Meritus Medical School, and Duquesne University expressed interest in partnering with Keystone for training and clinical experience for their medical students and residents. Keystone closed its COVID vaccine clinics as of 12/23/2022. However, vaccines remained available at the practice sites and at our Pharmacy.
Keystone received dollars from the County Commissioners of ARPA for the purchase of Golds Gym with a plan to construct a Keystone site at the old Southgate Shopping Center.
As a result of Keystone’s workforce development efforts, we partnered with NIMAA to begin providing medical assistant training and certification at Keystone. Students were selected after an application and interview process.
October brought the opening of the 100 Chambers Hill Drive facility, housing Behavioral Health, Foot and Ankle, and Chiropractic. All five medical assistant students graduated from the NIMAA program and began working as MAs at various Keystone sites.
