By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Community Health Centers: Not Just a “Safety Net”
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Hospital Administration > Community Health Centers: Not Just a “Safety Net”
BusinessHospital AdministrationPublic Health

Community Health Centers: Not Just a “Safety Net”

DavidEWilliams
DavidEWilliams
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

What do you think when you hear the term “safety net provider?” It doesn’t make a very positive brand impression, does it? Trapeze artists are glad that there’s a safety net underneath them, but they sure as heck don’t want to fall into it. If they screwed up and landed there they wouldn’t go around telling all their friends how great it was. And there’s absolutely no chance they’d rather perform in the net than up above.

What do you think when you hear the term “safety net provider?” It doesn’t make a very positive brand impression, does it? Trapeze artists are glad that there’s a safety net underneath them, but they sure as heck don’t want to fall into it. If they screwed up and landed there they wouldn’t go around telling all their friends how great it was. And there’s absolutely no chance they’d rather perform in the net than up above.

I thought about this as I read Safety-Net Providers After Health Care Reform in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Here’s the bottom line: uninsured patients in Massachusetts who use community health centers tend to keep using them even after becoming insured. Why? Because the centers are convenient, affordable, and offer services beyond medical care. As the nation as a whole follows Massachusetts’ example and the number of uninsured falls dramatically, I suggest it’s time to stop thinking of and labeling these facilities as mere “safety nets” and start treating them as the prototypical patient centered medical homes that they are. Not only should we encourage newly insured patients to continue using community health centers, we should encourage traditional primary care practices to evolve toward the health center model.

My own primary care office in downtown Boston is a traditional one: cramped, unattractive, filled with paper records, limited in its hours, indifferent in its customer service and focused entirely on medical issues. The only ways you’d know it serves an upper middle class clientele is by its address and by viewing the people in the waiting room. Visit a typical community health center in Boston and you’ll see something much more dynamic, friendly, modern. and efficient. They have electronic medical records, friendlier administrative staff, and offer dental, vision and mental health care along with a variety of community oriented outreach services.

More Read

claim denial
Reduce Claim Denials and Recoup Lost Revenue: 7 Steps
How Budget Cuts are Affecting Mental Health Care
30 Years Ago All These Baby Boomers Would Have Been in Wheel Chairs
Year in Review 2013: Evidence and Market Access
The DNA Doctor Consultation Of the Future

Community health centers have been “patient centered” since well that phrase became trendy. They attached themselves to the community and focus on serving the needs of the population. I spoke with a physician leader at a large health system that has both private practices and community health centers under its umbrella. She told me that there’s a major difference in how the physicians look at their work. When there’s a surplus within a private practice the physicians want to pay out bonuses. When a community health center has extra money, the staff look for opportunities to bolster the infrastructure and expand services. As a patient, which  attitude would you prefer?

I’m all for keeping a “safety net” in place, and community health centers should be proud to have that as part of their mission. But it’s time to shuck the “safety net” label and position health centers in the vanguard of primary care where they belong.


TAGGED:community health centershospitalspublic health
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Epidemiological Health Benefits
Personal and Epidemiological Health Benefits of Blood Pressure Management
Health
October 13, 2025
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries: What Families Need to Know
Policy & Law
October 10, 2025
Remote Monitoring touchpoints
Remote Monitoring Touchpoints Patients Will Actually Follow
Technology
October 9, 2025
dental care
Importance of Good Dental Care for Health and Confidence
Dental health Specialties
October 2, 2025

You Might also Like

Patient Centered Medical Homes: What it Takes for PCMH Accreditation

March 2, 2013

Tornado Hits Joplin, Missouri and Destroys St. John’s Hospital

May 23, 2011

AIDS Stages of Care – Three So Far; Will Number Four Come Soon?

June 29, 2011

Cool Healthcare Tech : Square

May 24, 2011
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?