Community Health Center Spotlight
Updated December 2011
NCSL highlights innovative health centers and state and federal action that impacts community health centers.
Community Health Center, Inc., Connecticut
As a leading health care provider to Connecticut’s underserved population since 1972, Community Health Center Inc. knows what it takes to convert to electronic health records. In 2006, it became one of the first safety-net providers to make the change, and, according to CEO Mark Masselli, it’s been a great success. “We are committed to transforming the way health care is delivered,” he says, by focusing on what works best to improve patients’ health, “which ultimately helps contain costs.” He believes using electronic health records helps providers respond to patients’ needs like never before. The advantages include:
- A patient’s complete medical record is available to an entire care team, regardless of where he or she is.
- Safety improves because every prescribed medication is automatically checked for potentially harmful interactions.
- New tools are available for providers to remind them when patients are due for important screenings.
- Trends can be tracked to evaluate what works, allowing changes to be made often, when necessary.
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Although the benefits are clear, adopting an electronic system is not always easy. “It takes commitment from the entire agency,” says Margaret Flinter, senior vice president of the Connecticut provider. Difficulties include:
- The upfront costs.
- Maintaining the privacy of medical information.
- Giving health care providers support as they change their practice habits.
- Understanding the current workflow in order to create procedures that work in the exam rooms.
Despite these challenges, Masselli believes “There is no doubt that EHR technology improves the quality of care at our center. Never before have we had access to data across our entire system that we can use to drive improvements.” For more information, click here.
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Peak Vista Community Health Centers, Colorado Springs
In response to health care providers limiting Medicare services, Peak Vista Community Health Centers opened the Colorado Springs Senior Health Center in April 2010. Established in 1971, Peak Vista is a nonprofit organization that provides primary medical, dental and behavioral health care to more than 60,000 residents of the Pikes Peak region.
The new Senior Health Center offers geriatric-specific services for seniors, emphasizing primary care, medical and behavioral health care for a healthy lifestyle. Geriatric-trained providers deliver one-on-one attention to support senior health issues and help manage chronic diseases. Peak Vista provides patients with their own personal primary care provider and coordinates referrals to community specialists. The center encourages healthy lifestyle behaviors through health education classes, providing counseling on diabetes management, cholesterol control and heart healthy habits. Peak Vista’s new Senior Health Center caters to patients 60 years and older, including the uninsured, and those who have Medicare.
Health outcomes improve when barriers to access are removed. Not only do studies show that community health centers – like Peak Vista – are a cost effective way to deliver services, they demonstrate improved health outcomes for individuals they serve, relative to comparable populations not served by health centers. For more information, click here.
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Cherokee Health Systems, Tennessee
Cherokee Health Systems is a unique health center that integrates behavioral services into primary care (adult, family practice, pediatric) with the goal of improving health outcomes and reducing cost. Founded in 1960, the organization currently has 22 locations, serving over 58,000 individuals in Tennessee.
Moving beyond the services received from co-located primary and mental health facilities, where mental health services are ancillary to primary care and require written referrals and scheduled appointments—Cherokee Health Systems utilizes a licensed psychologist as a part of the primary care team. Patients are able to see an on-site behavior health consultant immediately for assessment or intervention. The integrated approach to care allows for the psychosocial aspects of chronic and acute diseases to be addressed. By combining primary care with mental and behavioral care, Cherokee Health Systems is able to provide more comprehensive care that addresses lifestyle and health risk issues in order to encourage personal responsibility for health.
Health outcomes improve when the health care model addresses both physical and emotional factors together. Preliminary evaluation of integrated care programs- like Cherokee- show both reduced overall cost of care and higher levels of patient satisfaction. Cherokee’s experience has demonstrated that blending behavioral health experts into the primary care team has the promise of being both efficient and effective. For more information, click here.
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Illinois General Assembly Appropriations
The Illinois General Assembly appropriated $50 million for the construction and renovation of health centers as part of a statewide capital bill designed to stimulate the economy. “With the passage of the capital funding, Illinois health centers will not only be expanding the number of sites and services available to new patients, but will also have the benefit of creating both construction jobs and health professional positions in underserved communities throughout the state. Community health centers have a responsibility to meet the increased needs of their communities … the Community Health Center Construction Program gets them one step closer to meeting those needs,” says Jill Hayden, the director of state government affairs at the Illinois Primary Care Association. For more information on the Community Health Center Construction Program, click here.
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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) contains $1.5 billion in funding for health center infrastructure and $500 million for health center operational costs, to be dispersed by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The Act's significant funding for Medicaid and Health IT, distributed by CMS, is also expected to have a benefit for health centers.
HRSA is one of the first federal agencies to begin awarding ARRA funds. President Obama announced the release of $155 million to fund 126 health center New Access Points (NAPs). For more information about the Community Health Center grants by state, click here. For more information regarding the program, click here.
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