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
doctor with a clipboard

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 welcoming environment
  • Engaging our patients in whole-person care so they may flourish
Integrity
We do what is right and act with honesty, trust, and transparency.
Compassion
We treat every person with kindness, dignity, and care.
Access
We work to make care easier to reach, understand, and continue.
Respect
We listen, value each person, and honor their experiences.
Excellence
We keep learning, improving, and providing high-quality care.

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.

Two-minute overview of PHC’s team-based care, warm handoffs, and community partnerships.

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.

75
Licensed clinicians

Physicians, dentists, pharmacists, advanced practice clinicians, hygienists, and licensed social workers

420
Employees

Across PHC clinics and programs

39,393
Patients served

Calendar year 2023

131,837
Encounters

Clinic and program visits in 2023

* Data shown for calendar year 2023.

Executive Leadership

Nathan Simpson, MHA

Nathan Simpson, MHA

Chief Executive Officer

Julie Raasch, RN, MHA

Julie Raasch, RN, MHA

Chief Operating Officer

Stephany Balow, MHA

Stephany Balow, MHA

Chief Administrative Officer

Megan Srinivas, MD MPH

Megan Srinivas, MD MPH

Chief Medical Officer

Elizabeth Frantum, CPA

Elizabeth Frantum, CPA

Chief Financial Officer

Jenny Brown, MSHRM

Jenny Brown, MSHRM

Chief Human Resources Officer

Kelly Huntsman, MHA

Kelly Huntsman, MHA

Chief Strategy Officer

Bery Engebretsen, MD

Bery Engebretsen, MD

Chief Visionary

Board of Directors

Ben Bellus

Ben Bellus

Board Chair

Erin Baldwin

Erin Baldwin

Board Member

Scott Clair

Scott Clair

Board Member

Karin Derry

Karin Derry

Board Member

Denise Essman

Denise Essman

Board Member

Sergio Hernandez

Sergio Hernandez

Board Member

Kelly Hannan

Kelly Hannan

Board Member

Alicia Huguelet

Alicia Huguelet

Board Member

Roger Lacoy

Roger Lacoy

Board Member

Jeni Nosbisch

Jeni Nosbisch

Board Member

Jimmy Reyes

Jimmy Reyes

Board Member

Jon-Michael Rosmann

Jon-Michael Rosmann

Board Member

Billy Wade

Billy Wade

Board Member

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