About Primary Health Care
Primary Health Care (PHC) is a Federally Qualified Health Center serving Central Iowa since 1981. We provide affordable medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, and supportive services— welcoming everyone.
- FQHC • Sliding Fee Scale
- Medicaid, Medicare & most private insurance accepted
- Clinics in Ames, Des Moines & Marshalltown
Mission • Vision • ICARE Values
Mission
Primary Health Care, Inc. is a team of caring professionals providing health care and supportive services to all people to improve their quality of life.
Vision
INNOVATING to meet ever changing health challenges INVESTING in compassionate, caring, and talented teams WELCOMING patients and clients to a safe and inclusive environment ENGAGING our patients in holistic care so they may flourish!
- Integrity
- We do what’s right—consistently and transparently.
- Compassion
- We lead with empathy and kindness in every interaction.
- Accountability
- We own our actions, outcomes, and commitments to patients and one another.
- Respect
- We honor each person’s dignity, identity, and lived experience.
- Excellence
- We pursue quality, learning, and continuous improvement.
What We Do
PHC offers family medicine, pediatrics, dental, behavioral health, HIV care, and pharmacy— plus enabling services that remove barriers to care like benefits enrollment, case management, translation, transportation, and patient education.
How We Care (2 min)
Go behind the scenes of PHC’s team-based model—how medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, and supportive services coordinate so patients don’t have to navigate care alone.
- Warm handoffs between providers for same-day support
- Care coordination & patient navigation to reduce barriers
- Medication access with provider–pharmacist collaboration
- Language support and culturally responsive care
- Community outreach with schools, shelters & local partners
Read transcript
Narrator: At Primary Health Care, care is a team effort. From the moment you check in, our staff coordinates what you need—so you don’t have to do it alone.
On-screen: Family Medicine • Dental • Behavioral Health • Pharmacy • Supportive Services
Narrator: If a provider sees you need extra help, they’ll make a warm handoff—introducing you to a teammate right away, whether that’s a behavioral health therapist, a dental provider, or a pharmacist.
On-screen: Warm Handoff → Same-Day Support
Narrator: Our care coordinators and patient navigators help remove barriers. They can explain benefits, connect you to community resources, and follow up after your visit.
Narrator: In our pharmacy, clinicians and pharmacists work together on your medication plan—checking coverage, costs, and timing—so you can start treatment and stay on it.
On-screen: Provider ↔ Pharmacist Collaboration
Narrator: We offer language support and culturally responsive care. Interpreters and bilingual staff help make sure every conversation is clear and respectful.
Narrator: Outside our clinics, PHC partners with schools, shelters, and local organizations—bringing prevention, screenings, and education into the community.
On-screen: Community Outreach & Partnerships
Narrator: That’s team-based care at PHC: coordinated, compassionate, and built around you.
PHC by the Numbers (2023)
A quick snapshot of our team and care in 2023.
Physicians, dentists, pharmacists, advanced practice clinicians, hygienists, and licensed social workers
Across PHC clinics and programs
Calendar year 2023
Clinic and program visits in 2023
* Data shown for calendar year 2023.
Executive Leadership
Nathan Simpson, MHA
Chief Executive Officer
Julie Raasch, RN, MHA
Chief Operating Officer
Stephany Balow, MHA
Chief Administrative Officer
Theran Adamson, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Elizabeth Frantum, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Jenny Brown, MSHRM
Chief Human Resources Officer
Kelly Huntsman, MHA
Chief Strategy Officer
Bery Engebretsen, MD
Chief Visionary
Board of Directors
Ben Bellus
Board Chair
Erin Baldwin
Board Member
Scott Clair
Board Member
Karin Derry
Board Member
Denise Essman
Board Member
Sergio Hernandez
Board Member
Kelly Hannan
Board Member
Alicia Huguelet
Board Member
Roger Lacoy
Board Member
Jeni Nosbisch
Board Member
Jimmy Reyes
Board Member
Jon-Michael Rosmann
Board Member
Billy Wade
Board Member