At the heart of implementation and replication of a community based health center is a relationship of trust between the community and the providers. From the initial approach to community members in 1996 to the opening of the new health center building in 2002, members of the Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions engaged community residents in a continuous dialogue that shaped the center.
Dr. Patricia Gerrity has raised more than 16 million dollars to fund the center’s projects and infrastructure. The health center’s linkage to a system of federally qualified, nurse-managed centers operated by Resources for Human Development has been a fiscally sustaining factor. Since the center opened, the model has continued to evolve and change to meet the community’s health care and wellness needs.
When recruiting new staff, the 11th Street Family Health Services Center looks for individuals who are comfortable working in urban, diverse communities. In addition, the center ensures that new staff will embrace the guiding principles of the Center. (Listed in the Toolkit.)
The 11th Street Family Health Services, Drexel University has grown to 45 employed staff including nurse practitioners, medical assistants, outreach workers, social workers, psychologists, health educator, dentists and others. The Health Center is not only a place for care but also a source for employment in the community.
New staff members receive an orientation to the workings of the health center as a unit of the College of Nursing and Health Professions and as an integral component of the surrounding community. Dr. Patricia Gerrity, the Associate Dean for Community Programs, provides an overview of the history of the center, how it has evolved as part of the community, and an orientation to the health center’s vision, mission and guiding principles. (Listed in the Toolkit.)
Each new staff member spends time in each clinical area (e.g., primary care, behavioral health and dental services) so that they understand the interface among services in providing the most comprehensive approach to care.
The 11th Street Family Health Center provides services to any and all individuals who come to the center, regardless of their ability to pay.
The 11th Street Family Health Center required the intensive work of committed nursing school faculty to develop the vision and funding for the model. Many communities would benefit from a similar care delivery model; however, interested organizations will need to devote the time and energy to develop and continually evolve the model. The 11th Street Center benefited from the support of University administrators, who were able to work through the legal, political and infrastructure issues inherent in the development of community-based services.
