Project ECHO: Force Multiplier For Community Health Centers

Even with the Affordable Care Act, millions of Americans struggle to access health care when they need it. A huge part of the problem is a lack of both primary care and specialty providers in rural and other underserved communities. Without local providers who can meet patients’ needs, health care coverage does not necessarily translate to access to care. Developing Health U.S., the GE Foundation’s signature health program, strives to help as many people as possible gain access to health care by partnering with community health centers around the country. Community health centers are the backbone of the health care safety net, providing affordable primary care services to millions of uninsured and working poor Americans. Over the years, we have worked with more than 160 community health centers in forty-two cities in an effort to improve follow-up care, reduce patient wait times, improve access to behavioral health services, and increase the numbers of patients who keep their medical appointments. (Click on this link and then click on the “Capacity Building” box to read about some examples of successes.) We have learned a great deal from these efforts. What they highlight for us, more than anything, is the tremendous ability of properly supported community providers to do more for underserved populations. So, we are now embarking on an ambitious new strategy to support community providers by connecting them to a transformative model of medical knowledge-sharing and co...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Drugs and Medical Technology Equity and Disparities GrantWatch Health IT Health Professionals Quality Access Community Health Centers Health Philanthropy Innovation Physicians Primary Care Safety Net Source Type: blogs