Academic Medical Centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers: Collaboration for the Care of Underserved Communities

Abstract

Academic Medical Centers (AMCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are similarly tasked with managing the health of their local community, yet they each face unique challenges in their ability to do so. Integrating AMCs and FQHCs into novel care delivery models can leverage both organizations strengths, providing care in a comprehensive and sustainable fashion. Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM) implemented this model with a large East Baltimore medical center, creating an AMC-FQHC collaboration focused on providing care to the East Baltimore patient population. This system provided various improvements in care delivery, including increased staffing, new wraparound services, improved access to funding dollars, and decreased out of pocket costs for patients qualifying for financial assistance. The academic missions of research and training were preserved, serving as the primary continuity clinic for several residency programs and as a community site for research. These changes resulted in more robust care for patients while improving the financial standing of the clinic. Through AMC and FQHC partnership, progress can be made toward providing holistic and financially sustainable primary care services in underserved areas while preserving the tripartite mission of academic medicine, with significant pedagogical and research opportunities.