Colorado Community Health Centers (CHCs) are the future of health care. CHCs value innovation by continually exploring new ways of doing things, striving to be ahead of the curve, and listening to and forecasting patients’ needs. Continually making health care improvements within their communities is a constant focus of CHCs. Metro Community Provider Network (MCPN), one of Colorado 15 CHCs, was recognized for their health care efforts by receiving a highly anticipated innovations grant.
On June 15, 2012, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) announced over $1.2 million in health care innovation dollars to MCPN to support a path-breaking effort to deliver better health care at lower cost. This came as part of a $14.3 million health care innovation grant award to Rutgers University Center for State Health Policy of which Aurora is one of four cities across the country participating (Allentown, PA., Aurora, CO, Kansas City, MO, and San Diego, CA). MCPN will be a contractor under the Rutgers grant.
The goal with this new development is to reduce emergency room visits and unnecessary hospitalizations. MCPN along with its community partners, Aurora Mental Health, Together Colorado, and Aurora Health Access will be working together to implement the “hot spotters” health-care model developed by Dr. Jeffrey Brenner in Camden, NJ. “Hospital and emergency room visits are more expensive than primary health care visits, and primary care visits can address health conditions before they become emergencies and can often prevent the need for more costly care altogether,” explained Polly Anderson, Chief Policy Officer of CCHN. Providing health care to more community members at CHCs will help avoid extra hospital and emergency room costs.
The project replicates the “hot spotters” health-care model that was developed in Camden, NJ, under the leadership of Dr. Jeffrey Brenner and the PICO National Network. In the “hot spotters” model, care teams base themselves in neighborhoods where there is a disproportionate amount of ER and hospital utilization instead of seeking care at less expensive primary care providers. The goals are to improve access to health care and empower the community to “take charge” of their health..
MCPN and other CHCs throughout the state provide a medical home to over 500,000 Coloradans who otherwise would have no way of getting care. CHCs receive some federal funded providing medical, dental, mental health, substance abuse, pharmacy, and community-based services to the underserved, uninsured, and working families living in Colorado. CHCs have provided these services in Colorado since 1966.
Colorado CHCs are located in 33 counties operating 141 clinic sites. CHCs continue looking for innovative ways to better serve their communities. For a complete listing of Colorado CHC-led, innovative approaches to health care click here.
Working for a CHC is a very lucrative and rewarding experience. Would you like to work in a CHC? If so, and to learn more about what other employees of CHCs are saying here, or search for CHC Jobs on the CHAMPS Job Board.
