11th Street Family Health Services is constantly evaluating what they are doing and modifying the services they provide and how they provide them based on what works best for the patients, rather than orienting their care based on provider interests, payment sources, usual operating procedures and standard practice. For example, a chronic disease program revealed issues of vulnerability and trauma; so the center developed specific programs for vulnerable adults and for those who have experienced trauma.

The process of developing guiding principles for the center united the staff in what they are trying to accomplish with 11th Street Family Health Services.  It has helped weed out clinical staff who were not interested in innovation and the willingness to try new approaches to care.  The guiding principles are provided in the Care Delivery Model Toolkit.

In order to continue to heal the long-standing “mind-body split” the center provides services that acknowledge that mental and medical conditions are highly interconnected. Providing appropriate mental health treatment in the primary care setting presents an important opportunity to reach groups who cannot or will not access care in the specialty mental health setting.  Treating mental health problems in the primary care setting is also crucial because many who seek help there have milder symptoms that, if treated appropriately, can be prevented from developing into a more disabling disorder.

The 11th Street Center owes its success, in large part, to the passionate and visionary leadership provided by Dr. Patricia Gerrity, who has been willing to work with community residents to build trust and to shape services according to the community’s perceived need.  In addition, dedicated staff who believes in the mission and guiding principles and who continuously examines results to drive further improvement is essential to the center’s success.