National Health Center Week is coming fast, and as August 2 through August 8 approaches, it’s the perfect time to focus on your health as well.
Did you know that health centers represent one of the most valuable yet underutilized resources in Black communities? Believe it or not, these federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) can provide comprehensive, affordable, high-quality care regardless of one’s ability to pay.
In other words, for some people, these facilities are literally life-saving. And, for impoverished communities facing systemic barriers, health centers are not just about physical health. In many cases, they actually address a full spectrum of wellness needs.
Here are five potentially life-altering services available not far from your neighborhood, right now:
It’s called “whole person health,” and what it means is that you’re not just another number.
You’re not just another ID in a database, not just another patient to be let in and churned out, a body without unique concerns, questions, and lived experiences. Instead, many community health centers offer primary care that goes well beyond quick visits.
The beauty of these centers is that many providers often spend more time with patients. In other words, you have a real chance at building meaningful relationships with medical professionals. They understand who you are, how you live, what issues you face, what goals you pursue – everything that matters so much.
If you’re seeking better outcomes for chronic conditions prevalent in Black communities, such as hypertension and diabetes, comprehensive primary care can help.
Whether it’s medication adjustments, lifestyle coaching, or other preventative and treatment-oriented services, these centers coordinate care across specialties.
Even in the years surrounding COVID-19, this continuity of primary care has held true.
RELATED: What Black Doctors Say Healthcare Systems Still Get Wrong
With all the common focus on physical maladies, it’s sometimes easy to forget that we’re not merely bodies and organs. Our minds and bodies are inextricably linked; our mental well-being informs and affects our physical health, just as our physical health informs and affects our mental health.
This is why many mental health services are embedded directly into health centers. As a result, these facilities can effectively reduce or even remove the stigma and barriers preventing adequate help.
What do you seek? Therapy? Counseling? Other psychiatric services that focus on specific mental health conditions or neurobehavioral disorders?
Thanks to these integrated care models, patients in underserved communities have a greater likelihood of getting the support and guidance they deserve. Better yet, recent expansions in these communities make integrated mental health counseling even more promising.
Did you know that your oral health is deeply linked to overall health throughout your body?
Many people don’t realize it, but problems in what seems like a remote part of your body may actually be greatly impacted by the health of your teeth and gums.
And yet, dental care remains out of reach for many people who need it most. The good news is that various community health centers provide the kind of preventive and restorative dental services that can help. In most cases, they are performed on a sliding fee scale, which can ultimately help prevent complications like heart disease that are linked to gum disease.
The bidirectional relationship between oral and systemic health cannot be ignored.
You are what you eat, they say, but what if you don’t know what you’re supposed to eat?
What if you don’t have access to quality foods, as in the cases of marginalized communities and food deserts?
The answer to your questions may just lie with registered dietitians, many of whom work at health centers that offer personalized nutrition counseling. The best part of all is that some of these centers can even tailor to cultural preferences and budget realities.
Can’t afford to consistently shop organic or buy high-quality food products?
Depending on the location, some health centers can set you on a sustainable nutrition path, supported by local grocers, farmers’ markets, and certain discounted and low-priced sources you may not even know exist!
Not to mention, many centers run group diabetes prevention and management programs that combine education with peer support.
The research supports this: medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a registered dietitian nutritionist is linked to better outcomes in a full range of conditions, including “pre-diabetes, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, obesity, pre-hypertension, hypertension, dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease, head and neck cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.”
In other words, giving your body and brain the right fuel can go a long way in improving disease management.
Speaking of disease management, what about getting ahead of the curve?
Truth be told, it’s okay to be scared about visiting doctors. Many people have what’s called ‘white coat syndrome,’ where their blood pressure is higher in clinical settings than when taken at home. The reason for this – in many cases – is that patients are nervous.
They’re dreading the doctor visit. They don’t know what to expect; they don’t want to get ‘poked and prodded’; and they certainly don’t want to learn that they have some new health condition, potentially serious.
But think of the flip side. Thanks to health centers, many patients are addressing issues at the early stages. In fact, health centers may excel at preventive screenings for all sorts of diseases, whether it’s cancer, heart disease, asthma, or other conditions that disproportionately affect Black communities.
Many centers also provide ongoing chronic disease management, where you receive care from an entire team of professionals.
However, the quality of screening and preventive care often varies based on the “social vulnerability” of the population served. Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) serving the most vulnerable communities may see lower screening rates for cancer, particularly cervical, breast, and colorectal.
Due to findings like this, it’s important that marginalized community members and leaders continue to advocate for improved resources and support.
In theory, the true power of community health centers should lie in their integrated, whole-person approach. Rather than treating conditions in isolation, these providers must strive to coordinate care across services.
After all, patients will naturally feel more satisfied when their care feels more connected and culturally sensitive. For these reasons, health centers should place emphasis on employing community health workers who actually understand local realities. This way, patients can better navigate their social needs, whether demographic disease prevalence, transportation needs, or barriers to food access.
If you’re seeking a center near you, use the resources at your disposal.
Finding a center is easier than many realize. For instance, you can use the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) finder tool or simply search “federally qualified health center near me.”
Just be prepared before you show up.
Ensure you bring all current medications and any recent lab results to your visits. Be open. If certain social determinants are impacting your health, don’t shy away from your truth. Ask about options. Explore programs, transportation assistance, and on-site pharmacy services. Schedule annual wellness visits, even when you feel fine.
Bottom line: seize the opportunity!
And perhaps most importantly, build a relationship with your care team. By having a strong foundation, your consistency can lead to better outcomes.
It’s not an exact science, but it is a process. So, treat it like such. While your health journey doesn’t have to be navigated alone, the first step does begin with you. Many community health centers offer comprehensive, compassionate, affordable care designed for people just like you.
Don’t be shy. See for yourself and put your future self, your family, and others you care about in a better position, starting today.
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