All health organizations aim to be ‘patient-centered’ but not many actually give patients decision making power. That’s not the case with the 1,400 Community Health Centers (CHC) across the US which require 51% of board members to be patients. “That does so many things that I think changes the dynamics of healthcare and how it's delivered,” says Dr. Kyu Rhee, president and CEO of the National Association of Community Health Centers. Impacts include co-locating oral and mental healthcare with primary care and ensuring culturally appropriate delivery of care. Although CHCs already comprise the largest primary care system in the country -- serving 31.5 million Americans (1 in 11 people) regardless of ability to pay -- Rhee envisions eventually serving 30% of Americans. As he explains to host Michael Carrese, getting there will require a deepening of existing partnerships with local communities and more funding from state and federal governments. “An investment in Community Health Centers actually saves lives and saves money.” This is a great chance to learn about an innovative model of healthcare that looks beyond the exam room to address all factors in a patient’s life that may be barriers to better health, focuses on addressing health disparities and supports the resiliency of impoverished and underserved communities.  

Mentioned in this episode: https://www.nachc.org/