Community health centers can help close the care gap
Facilities offer accessible, affordable treatment option
By KATY CALDWELL
LEGACY COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES
Aug. 9, 2011
Washington approved the debt deal; so what comes next? Now our elected officials must determine how and where the budget ax will fall. One of the obvious contenders is the long debated U.S. health care system, and it will likely fall victim to this debt deal in one way or another. As the debate continues, I urge you to take this time to learn not only about our failing health care system, but about community health centers, in particular how they function and how they can help close the health care gap.
Nationwide, community health centers operate more than 7,900 locations and serve more than 20 million patients, the majority of whom have low incomes, are uninsured or publicly insured and are members of racial/ethnic minority groups. As a Houstonian and executive director of Legacy Community Health Services, I can tell you that the data on community health centers will defy your preconceived notions of what it means to provide comprehensive primary and preventive health care as well as social services to medically underserved families and individuals. I encourage you to keep reading with an open mind.