Established in 1982, the Louisiana Primary Care Association, Inc. (LPCA) is a non-profit corporation whose purpose is to promote accessible, affordable, quality primary health care for the uninsured and medically underserved population in Louisiana. It is a membership organization of Federally Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHCs) and supporters committed to the goal of achieving health care access for all and elimination of health disparities.

 

A Federally Qualified Community Health Center provides family-oriented primary and preventive health care services for people living in rural and urban medically underserved communities. CHCs exist in areas where economic, geographic, or cultural barriers limit access to primary health care for a substantial portion of the population; and they tailor services to the needs of the community.

 

What populations would I serve working at a health center?...or what types of patients receive services in a CHC?  
Our community health centers provide services to all patients aged from birth to geriatric patients within its respective community.  The centers accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance, and applies a discount fee schedule for families who do not have health insurance or any means to pay for services. 

LPCA provides recruitment services for community health centers.  Clinical opportunities are often available in community health centers for primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, psychiatrists, and licensed certified social workers.

It totally depends upon the CHC and your area of expertise.  Some CHCs receive all kinds of incoming patients – from primary care to dental.  CHCs range from small, single-provider rural clinics to integrated health centers that provide WIC, substance abuse, primary care, pharmacy, and dentistry in the same building. 

 

Providers receive competitive compensation, malpractice insurance, CME benefits, regular schedules and regular hours, paid vacation and holidays, federal and state loan repayments.

 

What if I need a Visa – J1 or otherwise?
We can refer you to a CHC with the infrastructure in place to handle the work involved with hiring a non-citizen.

Do you offer Loan Repayment?
The CHCs do not offer loan repayment, however, you can be employed at one of our CHCs and receive loan repayment through the State Loan Repayment Program.  Primary care practitioners who are eligible include those who are specialty board certified or have completed a residency in family practice, osteopathic general practice, obstetrics/gynecology, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry or dentistry. Mid-levels include physician assistants, advanced nurse practitioners and nurse midwives.  For additional information, contact Jeanne Haupt at 225.342.3506 or e-mail jhaupt@dhh.la.gov.

I’m an NHSC scholar.  Are all of your sites HPSAs?  
Yes, all of our Federally Qualified Health Centers are HPSAs.  However, in order, to be a scholar at one of our Community Health Centers,  the center has to have a minimum seventeen (17) HPSA score for scholar vacancies for all specialties such as Primary Care Physician, Family Nurse Practitioners/Physician Assistants, Dentists, Psychiatrists, and Certified Nurse Midwives.

I’m interested in employment at a Federally Qualified Health Center in the south.  When and where do I  apply for opportunities through LPCA?  
To apply for employment opportunities with one of Louisiana’s Federally Qualified Health Center’s, complete our candidate profile form so that your information can be added to our database.  Thereafter, your information will be referred to those entities that are have opportunities available.