A community health center is a place where people can receive health care. It is part of a network of medical clinics and is staffed by general practitioners and nurses. It serves a specific area or community. In addition, it is federally funded. These centers have a variety of services to offer its patients.
Culturally competent
The goal of culturally competent health care is to improve health care access for all patients. This is done by addressing health care inequities and working toward healthier communities. By addressing these inequities, nurse practitioners can better understand the needs of diverse communities and improve care quality. These nurses must be trained in cultural competence and must have strong communication and leadership skills.
Cultural competence begins with a sense of awareness of one’s own background. It involves taking the time to respect the background of others and identifying and addressing patients in ways that are appropriate for their culture. As a result, cultural competence is a process and not a single event. There are many ways to foster a culturally competent environment at a health center.
AHRQ’s Division of Priority Populations requested a systematic review of the literature on cultural competency. The request stemmed from concerns about the pervasive disparities of care among minority groups and LGBTQI populations. The aim of this systematic review was to identify the impact of cultural diversity competence interventions on three distinct populations: racial and ethnic minority adults, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI people.
Federally funded
A federally funded community health center is a nonprofit health care organization that provides comprehensive primary care to low-income individuals in a community. They qualify for reimbursement under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and are also eligible to purchase medications at a discounted rate through the 340B Drug Pricing Program. The centers also receive federal grants and protection from medical malpractice lawsuits. They are governed by a Board of Directors, with the majority of the members representing the populations they serve.
Federally funded community health centers play an important role in the US health care system. They provide culturally sensitive and comprehensive primary care services to a large, vulnerable population. The majority of their patients are uninsured and live in low-income communities. A 2013 study found that 35 percent of community health center patients were uninsured, and 93 percent of patients’ families earned less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Federal funding helps these centers keep their doors open to those most in need and ensures that they continue to provide high-quality care for the uninsured.