array of “Enabling Services” designed <strong>to</strong> reduce the barriers <strong>to</strong> healthcare that are experienced by many CHC patients. Language services, transportation, outreach, case management, education <strong>and</strong> other support services make healthcare more accessible for those who need them most. Unlike many healthcare providers, <strong>FQHCs</strong> cannot be selective about who they serve. They are required <strong>to</strong> serve everyone - women, men, children, young, old, black, white, Hispanic - everyone. In 2004, Florida’s <strong>FQHCs</strong> saw 588,288 patients with almost 2.4 million medical, dental <strong>and</strong> mental health encounters at 172 sites across the state in some of Florida’s most rural <strong>and</strong> inner city communities. Florida <strong>FQHCs</strong> employ 3,568 people including physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, medical assistants, pharmacists, case managers, outreach workers <strong>and</strong> other support staff. Table 3 illustrates the <strong>to</strong>tal number of patient encounters delivered by Florida <strong>FQHCs</strong> by category <strong>and</strong> number of visits (encounters) per patient. Table 3: Florida FQHC Patient Encounters by Type, Number <strong>and</strong> Ratio Type of Patient Encounter # of Encounters Average # of Encounters per Patient Who Are FQHC Patients Medical 1,845,136 3.28 Dental 205,355 2.37 Mental Health <strong>and</strong> Substance Abuse 90,334 5.09 Enabling 190,921 2.27 Total Encounters 2,351,108 Source: Florida Uniform Data System (UDS) 2004 Many FQHC patients are economically disadvantaged, uninsured <strong>and</strong> face substantial social challenges <strong>and</strong> barriers <strong>to</strong> affordable healthcare. The lack of financial resources <strong>and</strong> health insurance places major limitations on the availability of healthcare services for many people. <strong>FQHCs</strong> are required by federal regulations <strong>to</strong> serve medically underserved areas or populations (MUAs/MUPs) where access <strong>to</strong> healthcare is particularly difficult for residents. Many CHC patients work in low paying jobs with few, if any, benefits <strong>and</strong> cannot afford <strong>to</strong> miss an afternoon of work <strong>to</strong> see a clinician. Barriers <strong>to</strong> healthcare access are frequently compounded by a lack of reliable transportation. Many Florida CHCs make arrangements for transportation <strong>to</strong> <strong>and</strong> from health center sites, <strong>and</strong> <strong>to</strong> other providers who agree <strong>to</strong> provide additional services. Most physicians’ offices are open between the hours of nine <strong>and</strong> five. When working people (particularly low paid hourly workers) are sick, they often have <strong>to</strong> choose between risking the loss of needed employment, forgoing care for themselves <strong>and</strong> their loved ones or turning up at the emergency room after work hours. None of these options are good ones. Many Florida Community Health Centers offer evening <strong>and</strong> weekend hours making services more accessible <strong>to</strong> the populations they serve. Nearly 10% of Florida FQHC patients are privately insured <strong>and</strong> have options about where <strong>to</strong> go for healthcare. They choose <strong>to</strong> use <strong>FQHCs</strong> because of the number <strong>and</strong> scope of services they offer, the quality of care <strong>and</strong> the enabling services that make healthcare more accessible <strong>to</strong> them. Table 4 illustrates selected demographics for Florida FQHC patients. <strong>Underst<strong>and</strong>ing</strong> Florida <strong>FQHCs</strong> Copyright 2006 Page 7 ©
Table 4: Florida FQHC Patients by Age, Ethnicity, Language And Special Population Category Patient Demographics Percent of all CHC Patients Female Male Patients
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