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By Tami Jo Nix

UnitedHealth Group and PacifiCare have awarded Darin M. Camarena Health Centers Inc. a $367,250 grant to help the organization purchase computer equipment that will help better manage information, billing and services.

"We are one of the first medical clinics in the country to convert our practice to electronic medical records," said Wunna Mine, chief information officer for the health centers.

The clinic converted from the paper chart system to electronic record keeping about three years ago, he said.

The medical clinic, formerly the El Concilio De Madera clinic, incorporated as Darin M. Camarena Health Centers in 1978 and opened in September 1980 in a renovated facility with a practice of 1,500 patients.

At that time its services consisted of primary health care and health education for prenatal patients. Since then it has grown to become one of the largest local community-based health care providers offering medical and dental services to nearly 35,000 patients in three facilities.

They average about 90,000 patient visits each year and operate two clinics in Madera and one in Chowchilla.

The Madera clinic has five doctors, five physician assistants, two family nurse practitioners and three dentists. At the Chowchilla clinic they have two doctors and two dentists.

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Tami Jo Nix Tami Jo Nix is a senior staff writer, photographer and community / features writer for the Madera Tribune. You can contact Tami Jo at 674.8134 ext. 231 or e-mail at tamijo (at) maderatribune.net Tami Jo also handles community calendar items and wedding announcements. The Madera Tribune online subscription To subscribe or log on, CLICK HERE. For more information first, CLICK HERE.