Johnson Health Center is a non-profit, independent, Federally Qualified Health Center serving Lynchburg and the counties of Amherst, Bedford and Campbell. The health center is governed by a board of directors composed of at least 51% of our patient population.

Community Health Centers were created more than 50 years ago in order to increase access to healthcare in medically underserved areas. Johnson Health Center is proud to offer comprehensive primary health care services to anyone seeking care in the community.

We value and respect each patient, their family, ourselves and each other. Every individual associated with Johnson Health Center will be treated with dignity and respect. We value and respect individual differences, show empathy to our patients, their families and each other, and work collectively to build Johnson Health Center as a medical home and an employer of choice.

We are committed to doing the right thing every time. Our actions reflect our commitment to honesty, openness, truthfulness, accuracy and ethical behavior. We are accountable for the decisions we make and the outcome of those decisions.

We will pursue excellence each and every day in activities that foster teamwork, quality improvement, patient care, innovation and efficiency. At Johnson Health Center, all of our staff are passionately committed to the highest quality of care for our patients. We continually seek ways to enhance the patient experience and promote an environment of continuous quality improvement.

We value creativity, flexibility and continuous improvement efforts. We are advocates and instruments of positive change, encouraging employees to engage in responsible risk-taking and working to make a difference. Creative thinking enables us to build on successes and learn from failures.

We understand that teamwork is the essence of our ability to succeed. We work across functional boundaries and embrace diversity. Our collaborative approach ensures a culture of participation, learning and respect and serves to improve the quality of patient care. By focusing on a team based approach, the expertise of each Johnson Health Center employee is leveraged to optimize the patient experience.

James River Dental Clinic was opened in Madison Heights. Through JRDC both insured and uninsured patients have access to routine dental care, extractions, cleanings and x-rays. JRDC also provides valuable examinations and cleaning in local public school systems.

JHC expanded to meet the growing demand for pediatric specialty care. While pediatric patients were traditionally seen in the same primary care setting as adult JHC patients, JHC recognized the need to provide expanded pediatric services in Lynchburg.

Amherst County Community Health Center opened. With growing demand for services and challenges posed by limited transportation, JHC opened a practice in Amherst in an effort to provide improved access to services and a convenient location for Amherst County residents.

Bedford Community Health Center and Bedford Community Dental Center opened. Our Bedford centers offer primary care to both pediatric and adult patients, behavioral health services, OB/GYN services and dental services.

Johnson Health Center received grant funding to expand dental services and medical exams through two mobile units. These units will be taken to underserved areas that do not currently have a JHC clinic.

Johnson Health Center (JHC) has an ongoing interest in the development of its Board of Directors (BOD) membership and non-voting Board of Directors Committee members. JHCs BOD is made up of at least 51% JHC patients and 49% members from the community. JHC BOD Committees may include non-voting representatives of areas of special interest committees such as Development & Planning, Diversity & Inclusion, Quality Improvement and Finance.

If you are interested in being considered for a position as a Board of Directors member or a non-voting BOD committee member for Johnson Health Center, please complete the application below and include a short one-page biography.

Routine dental care is an important part of wellness! Johnson Health Center strives to meet all of your wellness needs. Dental services are available to adults, children and expecting mothers. You do not have to be a primary care patient of Johnson Health Center to see one of our dentists.

We recognize some children may be anxious about their dental exam or present with other concerns. In order to help pediatric patients remain calm so that the best service is available to them, we offer mild conscious sedation. This involves the utilization of nitrous oxide in combination with a pre-anesthesia oral sedation medication. The child will be partially awake and responsive but will have no memory of the procedures done, meaning no trauma is generated. There are special requirements so every case will be evaluated for whether sedation is appropriate.

It is important for you to take good care of your teeth and gums while pregnant. Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that increase the risk of developing gum disease, which can affect the health of your developing baby.

Pregnancy and dental work questions are common for expecting moms. Preventive dental cleanings and annual exams during pregnancy are not only safe but are recommended. The rise in hormone levels during pregnancy causes the gums to swell, bleed, and trap food causing increased irritation to your gums.

Dental work while pregnant, such as cavity fillings and crowns, should betreated to reduce the chance of infection. If dental work is doneduring pregnancy, thesecond trimesteris ideal. Once you reach thethird trimester, it may be very difficult to lie on your back foran extended period of time.

However, sometimes emergency dental work, such as a root canal or tooth extraction, is necessary. Elective treatments, such as teeth whitening and other cosmetic procedures,should be postponed until after the birth. It is best to avoid this dental work while pregnant and avoid exposingthe developing baby to any risks, even if they are minimal.

If dental work is needed, the amount of anesthesia administered shouldbe as little as possible, but still enough to make you comfortable.If you are experiencing pain, request additional numbing. When youare comfortable, the amount ofstresson you and the baby is reduced.Also, the more comfortable you are, the easier it is for theanesthesiato work.

Dental work often requires antibiotics to prevent or treat infections. Antibiotics such as penicillin, amoxicillin, and clindamycin, which are labeled category B for safety in pregnancy, may be prescribed after your procedure.

Routinex-rays, typically taken during annual exams, can usually be postponed until after the birth. X-rays are necessary to perform many dental procedures, especially emergencies. According to the American College of Radiology, no single diagnostic x-ray has a radiation dose significant enough to cause adverse effects in a developing embryo or fetus. According to the ADA and ACOG, having dental X-rays during your pregnancy is considered safe with appropriate shielding.