PCHC, a non-profit organization founded in 1997, is the only Federally Qualified Health Center in the Greater Bangor area, Waldo County, and in the Jackman region. Its purpose is to ensure access to comprehensive and integrated out-patient health care services to those on MaineCare, Medicare and those both with and without insurance – regardless of their ability to pay. PCHC is recognized as a leader among the nation's Community Health Centers, and has been named an "exemplar practice" by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation's leading health care foundation. PCHC practices are staffed by about 200 clinicians including medical and dental practitioners, mental health providers, physical therapists, pharmacists, and medical specialists. PCHC now provides over 400,000 patient visits for almost 65,000 patients annually. Its four largest practices in Bangor, Brewer, and Old Town are open seven days a week, including all day Saturday and Sunday and weekday evenings by appointment and through four Walk-In Care Clinics, for the convenience of its patients, and the public. PCHC has sixteen practices and program service sites in the Bangor area, plus one in Belfast, offering a wide range of services including family medicine, dental, pediatrics, geriatrics, nursing home care, psychiatry, mental health and substance abuse services, physical therapy, lab, x-ray, pharmacy and healthcare for the homeless and those at risk of homelessness. In addition, PCHC has a team of medical specialists who deliver a wide range of specialty services including allergy, gynecology, orthopedics, podiatry, dermatology and osteopathic manipulative therapy. All PCHC services are provided with a sliding fee scale based on income through its Affordable Care Program to make certain that everyone can obtain the healthcare services they need. About 7% of PCHC's budget is funded by Federal operating grants.