HealthPoint 

HealthPoint is a community health clinic and addresses health disparities and inequitable access amongst low-income, minority, and other vulnerable populations by ensuring communities across King County get high quality, affordable, patient-centered care.

Proven Success
In 2010 they provided a health care home for 62,542 people who came to them for 210,865 visits. They implemented electronic dental records so now any dental or medical provider can see patients’ records and also implemented digital x-rays in their dental clinics. Their commit is to serve individuals in need but they currently are turning away 35% of new patients because they do not have capacity to serve them.

They remodeled and expanded their Auburn clinic adding capacity for 1,600 more patients, 3,800 more annual visits, and 100 more prescriptions per day. The expansion was funded with $2 million in stimulus money through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This summer was the groundbreaking for the new Bothell Medical and Dental Health Center. It is scheduled to open fall 2012.

They were involved in the launch of Global to Local, an initiative that aims to use proven solutions implement in developing countries to address disparities in health care in King County. They are working with Public Health – Seattle & King County, Swedish Medical Center, Washington Global Health Alliance, and the cities of Tukwila and SeaTac to develop a pilot program for improving the health and well being of residents in Tukwila and SeaTac, two of King County’s areas of greatest need.

Collaboration
HealthPoint partners with A.T. Still University, and places students on site at community clinics around the country for three of their four years of medical school rather than the two years common to most medical programs. This allows the students to follow patients and their treatment regimens over time; develop the students’ ability to work in teams with other medical professionals; and hone their ability to listen to, diagnose and treat patients. The first class of medical students recently graduated. They hope one of the outcomes will be that the exposure students receive in community medicine in training translates to them returning and devoting their careers to community health centers.

Financial Health
The promise of health care reform is on the horizon and they are hopeful that progress will be made toward improving health care coverage and access to care. Unfortunately, State and Federal budget challenges have reduced current funding for care to uninsured patients, and reimbursement to health centers under the Medicaid program. So while the long-term outlook remains positive, short term challenges are upon HealthPoint and other community health centers and they will likely suffer budget shortfalls over the next two years. They are closely tracking legislative activities and advocating for the preservation of programs and funding. They are increasing their private fundraising activities. They are examining ways to deliver care more efficiently. They have been fiscally responsible over the years and have built some reserves. They will be looking for ways to bridge the gap between today and 2014.