The “Land of 10,000 Lakes” is known nationally for great health care.
But when it comes to health disparities, Minnesota still has some growing to do. Minnesota ranked 15th nationally in health equity in The Commonwealth Fund’s latest 2014 State Scorecard.
So, Health Talk is taking a moment out, in tandem with National Health Center Week, to shine a light on one of the Universityof Minnesota’s own affordable and accessible health care providers. Located in south Minneapolis, the U of M Community-University Health Care Center (CUHCC) is on the frontline of public health care. Their work reduces health disparities, improves lives and saves costs by encouraging regular health care visits for patients, thus providing preventative care and fewer hospital and emergency room visits.
CUHCC provides a “safety net” to Twin Cities residents without access to health care. Individuals from all walks of life cross through the center’s doors, so culturally sensitive and respectful care is the name of the game.
As of late 2013, 25 percent of the CUHCC’s patients were uninsured. Low-income families and children in south Minneapolis comprised most of the patient base. For those with scarce resources, clinic visits can often be few and far between, resulting in more last-minute emergency room visits and occurrences of multiple, poorly managed chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes and hypertension. Training new health care students in how to serve diverse patients is essential to improving existing health disparities in the community. Toward that end, more than 200 of Minnesota’s future health care workers train in CUHCC’s diverse urbancare setting each year.
“At health centers, patients not only get all the medical, dental and behavioral health care they need under one roof, but they are also treated as individuals, with dignity and respect,” said Deanna Mills, executive director of the Community-University Health Care Center. “This is what health care should be, and what we celebrate during National Health Center Week.”
Designated federally qualified health care centers like CUHCC are celebrating nearly 50 years of caring for medically underserved areas and populations this year.
Interested in learning more? Join the U of M Community-University Health Care Center, 2001 Bloomington Ave. S., Minneapolis, this Wednesday, August 13 from 2-4:30 p.m. for a National Health Center Week celebration including food, music, entertainment and the dedication of a new mural.
Also, be sure to follow and join in the national conversation on Twitter at #NHCW14.
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