About Premier Community Health

Our History

Premier Community Health was founded in 1977 as Hipple Cancer Research Center. From its origins at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, the laboratory moved to Dayton, Ohio, in 1979. It was named in memory of Dayton industrialist and civic leader Bob Hipple, who died of cancer. In 1985, it became an independent research facility, doing research in cancer treatment.

In 1999, Hipple became a member of Premier Health Partners, the largest health system in the Greater Dayton, region. It is made up of Miami Valley Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital and Atrium Medical Center, a physician's network, long-term care, home care and other healthcare services. At this transition, the organization adopted a new mission of cancer prevention research and community outreach. In 2003, the name changed to the Cancer Prevention Institute.

In 2006, Premier Health Partners re-examined the health needs of the Greater Dayton area. It discovered Dayton is an unhealthy city with shrinking health resources. To address these needs, it decided to again revise the mission of the organization. We became a community health organization focused on prevention, early detection and disease self-management on issues surrounding cancer, diabetes, heart and lung diseases. These diseases were chosen because they had one thing in common; you can make choices to prevent them or live well with them. With this expanded mission came our name, Premier Community Health.

Our Commitment to Research

Part of Premier Community Health's rich history is in research. While we no longer do "bench research" with Bunsen burners and test tubes, we remain committed to research.

PCH and the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine have a formal agreement to collaborate on epidemiological and community-based participatory research. (Epidemiology is the study of the cause of diseases, where they occur, who is affected, what causes it to happen, what makes it spread and how can it be controlled or prevented.)

In addition to this formal partnership, we partner with other departments at Wright State University to research in health communications, influencing health behavior and more.

Our Link to Premier Health Partners

As the largest health system in the Greater Dayton region, Premier Health Partners (PHP) offers services and programs throughout the complete continuum of care. It includes hospitals, a physician's network, long-term care, home care, outpatient centers, imaging facilities, specialty care centers and community health improvement.

Premier Community Health (PCH) is the community health improvement arm of Premier Health Partners. On behalf of PHP, PCH offers health screenings, education, community health awareness programs, personal health counseling services and conducts community health research. PCH is a wholly owned subsidiary of MedAmerica, the same company that owns Miami Valley Hospital. MedAmerica is owned by Premier Health Partners.

Even though we are owned by PHP, we are an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with our own community-based board of trustees, separate financial accounting and administrative functions.

Premier Community Health Services

Premier Community Health (PCH) goes into the community everyday offering health screenings and education. If you are hosting an event and would like to offer health information and/or screenings, or your group would like to utilize of our services, please give us a call at 937-227-9400.

• Health Screenings are an inexpensive, popular way to engage the community in thinking about health and encouraging healthy decision making. Cholesterol/HDL (good cholesterol)/blood sugar, blood pressure, colorectal home screenings, hemoglobin A1c's, carbon monoxide breath testing for smokers and more. Workplace flu shots are offered each fall.
• PCH also has a mobile mammography unit and takes it to local community health centers, senior centers, neighborhood centers and other locations to serve uninsured, at-risk women.
• The Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Project offers free mammograms, pap tests and other services to uninsured women.
• PCH offers a comprehensive Employee Health Management Program to help companies and their employees be as healthy as possible, and know how to use the healthcare system most effectively.
• The Diabetes Education Program helps the community be more aware of diabetes and how it is prevented or controlled. PCH has a certified diabetes educator.
• Smoking Cessation Counseling. Quitting is easier when you work with a certified smoking cessation counselor. Free counseling sessions, materials and more.

Many of our education programs, such as diabetes and tobacco counseling, are offered by telephone, one-on-one or in small groups. We work to meet your needs and help you have control over your health.

For more information on any of our programs, call 937-227-9400 or e-mail info@pch-dayton.org.