With mounting evidence that a shortage of primary health care access is one key contributor to health disparities in the U.S., a Cleveland-based health center is plugging a local gap by opening a new primary care clinic on the city's west side.

"To us, health care is having a regular source of care, a place where you can get in to see the doctor or nurse practitioner the day you need service, the first place you turn," says Jean Polster, Executive Director of Neighborhood Family Practice, which is based on Ridge Road in the Stockyards neighborhood. The new clinic will be located in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood. "When we looked at the city's west side, we felt that there was more need for primary care than existed."

Neighborhood Family Practice is a federally-qualified health center, which means that it receives federal funding, is governed by a board consisting of at least 51 percent patient users, and is a community-based nonprofit group. It also offers comprehensive services and treats all patients regardless of their ability to pay.

As the Affordable Care Act is implemented, federally-qualified health centers like NFP will play an even larger role in the community as sources of primary care. Recent studies have shown that there is a shortage in primary care physicians and nurse practitioners nationwide. Polster says that while NFP is expanding with an eye on health care reform, it will continue to serve patients if the law changes.

"Access to high-quality primary care really important to keeping communities healthy," she says. "But we're doing it because we saw a big community need. Ultimately, our ability to sustain growth may be tied to health care reform."

The new facility is the result of a partnership between Lutheran Hospital, which holds the lease on the site, and area foundations. The Mount Sinai Foundation, George Gund Foundation and Saint Luke's Foundation all provided grants.

NFP's new clinic, located at W. 65th and Franklin, opens on August 14th.

Source: Jean Polster
Writer: Lee Chilcote