Posted: 8/2/2022
National Health Center Week creates awareness for health center programs
The ability to bring healthcare to underserved communities in Dallas County began in the 1980s when Parkland Health’s then-President and Chief Executive Officer Ron J. Anderson, MD, had a vision of healthcare for all regardless of their ability to pay. This paved the way for Parkland’s Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) clinics, a network of neighborhood-based health centers that provide a “medical home” to primarily low-income communities.
“These clinics directly in the neighborhoods serve a valuable purpose of providing essential care to our diverse communities. It allows us to connect with people where they live,” said Rhonda Green, Senior Registered Nurse at Parkland’s RedBird Health Center. “At Parkland’s health centers, someone can come in and know they will be taken care of. It’s a one-stop shop for health services.”
Community Health Centers nationally have been key to ensuring individuals can access affordable, quality healthcare, during and beyond the pandemic. Like Parkland’s COPCs, they are locally run yet part of a national network serving nearly 29 million people. A unique aspect of the health centers is that many of the employees live in the same communities they serve, just like Green. The senior registered nurse worked at the Bluitt-Flowers Health Center in South Dallas for seven years. In 2021, she transferred to the RedBird center, where she can provide medical assistance and education to residents in the neighborhood she’s called home for almost 30 years.
“These are my people; they are my neighbors. When I am in an appointment with them, I can share with them that I am part of this community too and it’s a bonding experience. They know I understand some of their challenges,” Green said.
Parkland has 13 primary care health centers in Dallas County as well as five Youth & Family Centers in the Dallas and Carrollton-Farmers Branch school districts. The newest clinic, Jubilee Park Community Clinic, began serving patients on Aug. 1.
“Our goal is to provide the highest quality of care for every individual in a cost-effective manner. Ensuring that our patients receive their health screenings and vaccinations on time is critical to not only their health but the health of the community as well,” said Noel Santini, MD, Senior Medical Director and Vice President of Ambulatory Services at Parkland.
Parkland's health centers provide primary care services to newborns, adolescents, adult and geriatric patients that include preventive care, routine checkups, sick visits, care of chronic medical conditions, mental healthcare, as well as optometry and podiatry services. Support services also include social work, nutrition, counseling, pharmacy, radiology and mammography, among others.
“Often people wait until they have symptoms, or something is wrong to get seen by a health provider,” said Green. “But routine checkups are important even when you feel good.”
Health centers serve as the primary medical home for more than 300 million people across the country, according to the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). They provide care to people who disproportionately suffer from chronic diseases and lack access to affordable, quality care.
The work done in health centers, like at Parkland’s COPCs, is celebrated during National Health Center Week, Aug. 7-13, to bring awareness to the mission and accomplishments of America’s health centers.
“Whether it’s walk-in clinics for minor injuries or immunizations to specialty appointments, via in-person or teleconferencing, to manage chronic and complex medical problems, Parkland health centers continue to redefine the way we deliver outpatient care to the patients of Dallas County,” said Dr. Santini.
To find a Parkland health center near you and learn more about Parkland’s COPCs, visit www.parklandhealth.org/locations.