Many individuals get their main care via typical medical doctors’ workplaces. However these settings could not work for everybody. In a few of these circumstances, Federally Certified Well being Facilities (FQHCs) could also be an possibility, making it attainable to beat many conventional obstacles to care.
In 1965, the U.S. authorities established FQHCs, also referred to as Neighborhood Well being Facilities, to broaden well being care entry in America. That makes 2025 the sixtieth anniversary of this establishment.
Right this moment, there are about 1,400 FQHCs within the U.S. offering very important companies in our communities. Right here within the Philadelphia space there are about 20 of them.
In my position as a Inhabitants Well being Specialist at Independence Blue Cross (IBX), I get to work with quite a few FQHCs. Right here’s why I feel they’re so necessary, and the way my group collaborates with them to shut gaps in care.
FQHCs Make Care Accessible No matter Revenue
FQHCs present look after low-income people or those that lack medical health insurance. This makes well being care accessible for somebody who in any other case could not have the ability to afford it.
FQHCs additionally serve those that do have medical health insurance. FQHCs usually use a sliding charge scale to ensure care is inside attain for all sufferers.
FQHCs Present Care in Medically Underserved Areas
Many neighborhoods don’t have sufficient common main care workplaces, so there could also be lengthy wait occasions to get an appointment. Some areas have no common main care workplaces, which may make getting care even tougher. So, many individuals merely don’t search care after they want it.
FQHCs are sometimes situated in these neighborhoods on objective to fill a important want and enhance entry to care.
FQHCs Ship Full-Service Care in One Place
When individuals need to go to a unique place to see every of their medical doctors (main care, eye physician, dentist, and so forth.) it may be overwhelming. It might additionally make it too laborious to remain on prime of the care they want. Particularly if they’re additionally caring for younger kids or different family members, that’s much more appointments they should schedule.
Plus, not everybody can get break day from work, or time away from their households, to go to separate appointments for various kinds of care. Transportation can be a barrier.
Typically, FQHCs present a large number of well being care companies below one roof. An incredible instance is Delaware Valley Neighborhood Well being (DVCH), which presents on-site grownup and pediatric main care, OB-GYN companies, behavioral well being care, optometry, podiatry, dental care, HIV care, hepatitis C care, and extra. That makes it attainable for sufferers to deal with a number of well being wants in a single place, all on the identical day. It may be an actual game-changer.
DVCH additionally presents wraparound care coordination and social companies, authorized recommendation, and well being schooling. They’ll even help with medical health insurance enrollment. They actually go above and past what some common workplaces present and meet wants that in any other case usually go unfulfilled.
