Mason, Leavitt & Chaffee, (2013) state that Community Health Centers (CHC) are patient and community- based organizations established to serve people within a given defined area. The people depending on community health centers often have limited or impartial accessibility to health care. Often community health centers serve particular communities or people, and they offer services to all, are maintained and governed by chosen community members, and offer wide-ranging health care (National Academies Press, 2014). Over the past years, community health centers have formed a critical aspect of health care service delivery with increased funding from the federal government under the Affordable Care Act. Despite their continued rise and prominence in society, community health centers have pros and cons.
Pros of Community Health Centers
Accessibility and cheap
Firstly, community health centers offer wide-ranging health care services, thus expanding the number of locals accessing healthcare services. Due to their strategic locations within communities, CHC provides health services to the low-income target groups, thus boosting primary care to disadvantaged groups or marginalized societies (National Academies Press, 2014). According to Mason et al. (2013), the cost of health services in CHC is far low, making it possible for low-income earners to access quality health services at subsidized costs.
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Increased economic activities and business prospects
At the same time, increased penetration and dependence on CHC have increased economic activities in the areas served (Mason et al., 203). The emergence of CHC has risen, thus job opportunities for locals. At the same time, new business ventures and expansion have been increased in these areas, further improving the livelihood of the locals.
Easy identification with services and providers
The establishment of community health services has enabled patients to quickly identify with their health care providers, such as nurses, physicians, and other health care professionals easily accessible. Services at the facilities are often intertwined with the neighbor’s needs, thus improving relevant health care service delivery. At the same time, with ease of accessibility, patients and locals easily identify with the underlying dynamics of health care and their health needs (National Academies Press, 2014). In many ways, community health centers have revamped health care coverage in addition to helping the nation strive towards achieving health care goals under the Affordable Care Act.
Cons of Community Health Centers
Large work-load
Due to their proximity to locals and communities, CHC has large work-loads. Coupled with understaffing, these facilities, at times, chock with overworked, stressed, and overwhelmed health care providers (Mason et al., 2013). Such only make organization and coordination of services at the facilities strained and cumbersome. Due to the heavy work-load, it is challenging to schedule clients appropriately for therapy or treatment.
Lack of sufficient resources
At the same time, community health centers suffer from a lack of funds. Lack of resources also arises due to a large population to attend and offer services. Since most of the centers depend on funding and grants, at times, they are left with little funds for operations straining their limits. For example, most Community Health Centers lack therapy and special services such as personalized hospitalization.
Extensive Bureaucracy
Since the facilities depend on funds and grants, there is always the need for documentation and lengthy paperwork. For example, documentation of the number, contact, referrals, and evaluations are undertaken often put significant strains on the healthcare providers complicating services delivery (National Academies Press, 2014). Often supporters and sponsors of the health facilities require strict adherence to the high-level standard of documentation and administration as proof of proper usage of funds. Such makes the entire management and administration of the health facilities full of rigid tendencies.
References
Mason, D. J., Leavitt, J. K., & Chaffee, M. W. (2013). Policy and Politics in Nursing and Healthcare-Revised Reprint . Elsevier Health Sciences.
National Academies Press. (2014). The future of nursing: leading change, advancing health. Washington, D.C.
