ABOUT US
Care for today and tomorrow
Health care has changed a lot in the past half century. A new generation of care providers has arrived, bringing fresh ideas, new technology, better ways to treat you and your family.
Our History
In 1978, a dedicated group of doctors came together to address the significant health care disparities faced by seasonal and migrant farm workers. This small clinic in Toppenish, Washington, aimed not only to improve the health of its patients but also to act as a catalyst for change in the systems that hinder access to wellness.
Expanding Our Reach
Over the next four decades, Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic expanded its services beyond Toppenish to encompass the entire Yakima Valley, Spokane, the Willamette Valley in Oregon, the Tri-Cities, Prosser, Walla Walla, Astoria, Clatskanie, and Hermiston.
Nurturing Future Talent
In addition to meeting the health needs of the families we serve, we are committed to training the next generation of health care providers. Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic is a teaching health center with programs for dental, medical, behavioral health, and pharmacy professionals.
Meeting Growing Patient Needs
Our patient base has grown to include all families facing challenges in accessing high-quality, low-cost health care.
Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic
Transforming Communities
The mission of Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic is more than words on a page; it is a living, breathing commitment to the people we serve.
“Together we transform our communities through compassionate, individualized care, eliminating barriers to health and well-being.”
This statement of purpose is not just a guiding principle; it is the very essence of our work.
For the people we serve, Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic is a symbol of health and hope. Our mission, deeply ingrained in empathy and care, propels us to uplift every life.
Together, Community & Patient Partnerships
We’re not just fostering individual health but cultivating communal wellness. Our unwavering commitment is to promote health equity and envision a future where everyone flourishes. In collaboration with our community partners, we are building a legacy of health for future generations. Furthermore, we work hand-in-hand with our patients to help them along their health journey with encouragement, guidance, and careful consideration of their wants and needs. Our collective commitment to the community’s wellbeing is reflected in every service we provide, creating a health tapestry that covers all our communities.
Compassionate, Individualized Care
At the core of the clinic’s mission is our commitment to compassionate care. This means that every patient is treated with kindness and understanding, regardless of their background or circumstances. The healthcare professionals at Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic recognize that each individual’s health journey is unique, and we tailor our services to meet these diverse needs.
An Individualized Approach to Care Overcomes Health Barriers
Our wellness strategy extends beyond mere illness treatment; it adopts a holistic perspective on health that acknowledges the social factors influencing overall
well-being. Through educational initiatives, dietary guidance, mental health support – and more – we proactively tackle these barriers. Our policies and procedures, like sliding fee scale for services, providing language interpretation, assisting with enrollment in Medicaid or Medicare, and other solutions, support patients through their health journey.
Community Transformation Through Health
The vision of Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic is, “The health of each person is the health of humanity.” This vision is connected to our commitment to community transformation. By providing high-quality healthcare, we support our patients through their health journey which, in turn, creates a ripple effect throughout the community.
Healthier individuals mean stronger families and a more vibrant and thriving community.
“Together we transform our communities through compassionate, individualized care, eliminating barriers to health and well-being.”
OUR MISSION
Extending Our Care
We don’t start with costly procedures. We start with simple acts of affection, empathy, and concern. Our approach is based on our belief that all of us – patients and providers, students, and volunteers – are bound together.
We’ve thought that since the beginning. When Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic opened, health care for migrant and seasonal farmworkers was almost non-existent. That’s when three respected physicians — Dr. Paul Monahan, Dr. Donald Gargas, and Dr. Julie Ricking – stepped up. Working with a group of committed care providers, they set up a clinic in Toppenish in a small house made of plywood and built by VISTA volunteers.
Now, all these years later, we’re still stepping up:
- We serve more than 200,000 patients, nearly half of whom are children.
- Our full-time staff has grown to more than 2,000.
- Our Northwest Community Action Center has helped another 7,500 people with educational services, employment, and job training, rental and shelter help, and assistance paying for weatherization and utility bills.
- Our WIC services alone have helped 30,000 people get food.
We’re also leaders in the era of national health care reform:
- We are Joint Commission certified because of our outstanding programs and services.
- We are Meaningful Use recognized for using technology to offer our patients the best care and record-keeping possible, to engage patients and their families in their health, and to assure our clients’ privacy and security.
- We’ve also earned our Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home recognition by listening to patients, focusing on their personal health goals, and continuing to provide safe, high-quality affordable care.
We're In This Together
We like to think we’ve learned a few things over the years. The truth is, though, we’ve learned much of it from you. You know better than anyone what your family needs. That’s why we’ll keep listening to what you tell us, offering whatever guidance we can along the way.
And we’ll continue to give you and your family the very best care we can. Because we really are all bound together.
Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic is an FTCA deemed organization
Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic is a network of health care clinics that receives HHS funding and has Federal PHS deemed status with respect to certain health or health-related claims, including medical malpractice claims, for itself and its covered individuals
