National Health Center Week will be recognized this year from Aug. 3 – 9, but what is a health center, exactly? Community health centers, including Cempa Community Care, play an important role in keeping those in our community healthy and well.
Each year, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) sponsors National Health Center Week, designed to raise awareness about community health centers.
So, we’re taking this opportunity to do exactly that. Read on as we share the details about these important health organizations and what they do for those living and working in our community and others across the country.
What a Community Health Center Is
If you’ve ever received care through Cempa, you’ve visited a community health center, though you might not know it by that name. We’re one of thousands of community health centers located across the United States, including 30 in the state of Tennessee.
Community health centers originated in 1965, when the Public Health Service Act established a federally supported health center system. The act was promoted by President Lyndon B. Johnson as part of the “War on Poverty.”
Since the 1960s, this network of health centers has provided high-quality, affordable health care for people, regardless of their ability to pay. You may be familiar with that wording: At Cempa, our mission is to “champion healthy communities by providing affordable, compassionate, and high-quality care.”
That’s the role of community health centers everywhere. Health organizations such as ours that are designated as Federally Qualified Health Centers are committed to increasing access to primary care services by reducing or eliminating challenges to getting that care.
Some members of our community, for example, may face challenges such as not having insurance, being unable to pay for care, or not having transportation to a medical facility. We’re here to help break down barriers, providing everyone with access to the care they need.
The Impact of Community Health Centers
Community health centers have now existed for six decades. During that time, they’ve made a significant impact on the greater Chattanooga community and others throughout the United States.
Let’s look at it purely by the numbers. Each year, community health centers:
- Care for nearly 32.5 million patients in more than 16,000 communities
- Provide care for 419,000 veterans
- Serve 1.4 million patients who are unhoused
- Treat patients of all ages, including 3.8 million people age 65 or older and 1 in 9 children
At Cempa and other community health centers, patients can access primary care, as well as a full range of integrated health services, including behavioral care, infectious disease care, preventive care, dental care, and pharmacy services. All of these services are provided on a sliding-fee scale, making them accessible to everyone.
There’s an added benefit, too. Years of data show that community health centers significantly reduce health costs, while also stimulating the economy in their communities. The NACHC notes that health centers across the country create 340,000 jobs and generate approximately $118.4 billion in local communities.
In Tennessee alone, community health centers employed nearly 6,000 people and had a total economic impact of $894.8 million in 2023.
The Care You Need, Right Here at Home
At Cempa, we live out the mission of community health centers. Our team of providers offers everything from routine checkups to management for chronic health conditions.
We provide these services in a facility conveniently located on East 3rd Street, which houses our main clinic, pharmacy, behavioral health services, and dental clinic. We also offer services in other locations in the community through our mobile clinic.
Care is provided using a sliding-fee scale based on income. We’ll work with you to determine what your costs will be and how to get the care you need at a price that’s affordable for you. We’re here to help.
As a community health center, Cempa offers comprehensive and affordable care for those in the greater Chattanooga community. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call 423-265-2273. Existing patients can also schedule an appointment online.
