Drexel University began its search for a new care delivery model in order to address insufficient access to quality health care in the communities surrounding the University. The North Philadelphia community contains thousands of medically-underserved residents and four public housing developments. In the early stages of development, the community in which the health center now resides, was a federally designated “medically underserved area” with little access to primary care providers who treated them with the dignity and respect they deserved.

Residents of the community were clear in their desire to have easy access to high quality, primary care and health promotion programs that were welcoming to all, regardless of ability to pay. Drexel’s health center was developed to meet these needs.

The model of 11th Street’s health care delivery originated through a Future Search conducted by the University with the residents of four public housing developments in North Philadelphia. In 1996, several public health nursing faculty led by Dr. Patricia Gerrity asked leaders of the public housing residents’ councils how the College of Nursing and Health Professions could help the community with health-related issues. Community leaders wanted “a place in our own neighborhood where we can get good health care.”

In 1998, Dr. Gerrity received a HRSA program grant and began delivering primary care services to the community in offices located in a small community center connected to one of the public housing developments. Services were delivered out of this site for four years.

In 2002, Drexel University received $3.3. million from The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to build a freestanding 17,000 square foot health care center in North Philadelphia in partnership with the Philadelphia Housing Authority. The center, centrally located among four public housing developments, anchors the renaissance of a neighborhood once considered an example of urban decay. Since opening in September 2002, the number of patients served in the center has grown substantially. In 2006-07 the Center staff served patients through 20,000 visits in primary care, behavioral health and dental care.

The 11th Street Family Health Center is funded through federal, state, and private foundation grants. Through its linkage with the Family Practice & Counseling Network, 11th Street receives an annual grant that partially underwrites care for the uninsured as well as cost-based reimbursement for patients covered by medical assistance. Fifty-four percent of the health center’s funding comes from Medical Assistance, 12 percent from Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, 13 percent from US Department of Health and Human Services funds, 14 percent from grants and donations, and 7 percent from other sources (e.g. patient fees, Medicare, private insurance reimbursement).

Over its life, the 11th Street Family Health Center has received reimbursement, grants, and funding from many organizations, including those listed below.

• Barra Foundation
• Campbell-Oxholm Foundation
• City of Philadelphia Department of Health
• Family Planning Council
• First Hospital Foundation
• Health Insurance - Private & Public
• HRSA - Bureau of Primary Care
• HRSA BHPr
• HRSA- Construction & Facilities
• Independence Blue Cross (IBX)
• Independence Foundation
• Lincoln Financial Foundation
• March of Dimes
• Pennsylvania State Department of Health
• Pew Charitable Trusts
• Philadelphia Housing Authority
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• United Way
• Wachovia Foundation