OFM_CHC Profile_0825 . qxp_Profile 7 / 8 / 25 3 : 38 PM Page 1 ADVERTISEMENT B U S I N E S S S P O T L I G H T Compassionate Care based on household income and size . CHC has extended hours to accommodate busy “ The comprehensiveness of our care is very important , ” families , as its centers stay open until 6 p.m . on Mondays Dr . Pichardo says . “ The reason I say that is because and 7 p.m . on Tuesdays while also offering weekend health care can be complex for patients who don’t know hours at their Apopka and Winter Garden centers . for Kids how to navigate it . The fact that we are a one - stop shop Throughthe use of Electronic Health Records , information where you can see your primary doctor , you can see your is easily shared between centers , too , so patients can be Pediatrics is just one of the specialties optometrist , you can take care of your behavioral needs seenwherever it is most convenient . Telemedicine is also offered at Community Health andyou can get your prescriptions is a great value . That offered for several health services , too . is something you don’t always see and our patients make Manyof the providers also speak other languages so Centers , which provides affordable good use of that . ” thatfamilies are more comfortable and able to understand treatment for the whole family at each Of course , pediatrics is a major piece of the puzzle , theirplan of care . of its 16 locations in Central Florida . and with full - time pediatricians at most of CHC’s “ We have team members in our centers who can centers , parents never have to travel far when their assist parents if they don’t have their child signed up for by MATT COSENTINO children need to see a doctor . FloridaMedicaid or other pro - The wide range of services gramsthat could benefit them , ” hroughouta career in medicine , Dr . Jocelyn Pichardo geared toward youngsters in - Riordan says . has always been committed to the idea that every cludes school / sports physicals , If a patient’s needs fall Tmember of a community deserves quality and com - vaccinations , flu shots , cancer outside the scope of CHC’s passionate care that is personalized to his or her needs , screenings , treatment for injuries services , it has strong relation - regardlessof economic status . It is no wonder , then , that as well as chronic illnesses , nu - shipswith partners in the com - she eventually found a home at Community Health trition counseling , vision and munity — such as Nemours , Centers ( CHC ) , a nonprofit organization that has been hearing screenings , and much Orlando Health and Ad - serving Central Florida’s diverse population since 1972 . more . ventHealth — andcan connect “ I have been here for 10 years , and prior to that I The waiting and exam themwith specialized care out - worked for another similar center , so this is all I have rooms are also designed to sideof its walls . known in the 27 years of my career , ” says Dr . Pichardo , make children feel comfortable and to lessen the feeling Clearly , CHC is dedicated to doing all it can to get a practicing physician and the chief medical officer at of being in a doctor’s office . thepeople of Central Florida the care they need , and Dr . CHC . “ I believe in the model , I believe in the need , and “ All of our centers have a theme in the children’s Pichardo is just hoping more people will turn to the or - I believe in the mission of CHC . We care about helping areas , ” says John Riordan , director of marketing and com - ganization . these patients . ” munity relations . “ In Meadow Woods , for example , it “ Central Florida is a melting pot and it’s a very With16 centers in Orange and Lake counties , and looks like a pirate ship — a cartoonish , friendly pirate ship dynamic population , ” she says . “ You see a lot of people two more set to open in the next few years , CHC is a with parrots , and the wood flooring makes it look like coming in and coming out , so we always want the ever - multidisciplinary organization offering everything from you’re on the ship deck . It’s very appealing for children . changingpopulation to know the services that we have . family care to dentistry and a pharmacy , all under one We’ve done a very good job of hanging instruments on the I practice out of the clinic in Pine Hills , and often I hear roof . Specialties such as OB / GYN , optometry and be - wall in murals that blend in , so the children don’t see some patients say , ‘ I didn’t know about all of the services that havioralhealth are also available . of the scopes and instruments that our providers use . ” you offer . ’ I think part of that is the landscape of our CHCaccepts private insurances , Medicare and Med - The pediatricians themselves are also known for community . ” icaid , and patients don’t need insurance to schedule an their gentle nature around kids . “ At Community Health Centers , we’re constantly appointment . A sliding - scale program offers discounts “ Our pediatricians do not use a traditional lab coat ; working to reach more families and expand access to they wear kid - friendly clothes to make the children feel care . Currently , we are adding 30 % more space at our Community Health Centers comfortable , ” Dr . Pichardo says . “ Our providers have a Apopka center , we’ll be able to serve additional patients Multiple locations welcoming personality and a smile and it helps with andprovide even more essential services . Growth is part Orange County : . 407 / 905 - 8827 pediatric patients . They have the happy face you want to ofour mission , and we’re proud to keep moving forward , ” Lake County : . 352 / 314 - 7400 | CHCFL.org see when you see a doctor . ” addsRiordan . ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM | august 2025 | ORLANDO FAMILY | 33