OPINION: A strong foundation for a healthy community
By Lisa Aquino
Originally published in the Anchorage Daily News on Aug. 2, 2024
This August, we celebrate National Health Center Week, recognizing the vital role community health centers (CHCs) play in our health care system. CHCs differ from traditional doctor’s offices as nonprofit organizations focused on providing comprehensive, high-quality medical services to everyone, especially those with limited health care access. They are community-based and patient-directed, led by a board with a strong patient voice and a focus on holistic well-being.
Since 1974, Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center (ANHC) has been serving our community, making us Alaska’s longest-standing CHC. Our mission is simple: to provide high-quality, accessible health care for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. We offer a wide range of services, including primary care, dental care, behavioral health services, preventative care, pharmacy, lab, X-ray and telehealth. By integrating these services under one roof, CHCs like ANHC create a supportive environment where patients receive coordinated and continuous care, leading to better health outcomes and reduced health care disparities.
Your partner in health
In Anchorage, ANHC plays a crucial role within the broader health care system. Our health care providers and their teams assure comprehensive primary care, connecting patients to needed services at ANHC and in the community, serving the whole person and their whole health. ANHC is your primary care “home base” for routine check-ups, vaccinations, chronic disease management, and mental health services, among other needs. By managing non-emergency health issues, ANHC reduces the burden on hospitals and emergency rooms.
At ANHC, you can establish a relationship with a trusted provider who knows your medical history and coordinates your care, ensuring you receive the right care at the right time in the right place. We offer a sliding fee scale and accept most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, ensuring affordability is never a barrier to accessing essential care.
A healthy future for Anchorage
ANHC and other CHCs provide invaluable benefits to our community, extending beyond individual patient care to broader public health improvements. By adhering to frameworks such as the Vital Conditions framework and the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model, ANHC fosters environments that support long-term health and well-being.
The Vital Conditions framework emphasizes the importance of stable housing, safe neighborhoods, and accessible education as fundamental components of health, which ANHC addresses through community partnerships and integrated services. The PCMH model ensures that care is patient-centered, comprehensive, and coordinated, fostering stronger patient-provider relationships and more effective health care delivery. By focusing on these frameworks, CHCs contribute to a healthier Anchorage with reduced health care costs in the long run.
Investing in CHCs, expanding their capabilities and enhancing collaboration across all levels of care is crucial to preparing Anchorage’s health system for the future. This builds a resilient system equipped to meet our community’s evolving needs and ensures everyone has the opportunity to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
Join us at ANHC’s open house
To celebrate National Health Center Week and our commitment to the community, ANHC is hosting an open house on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 4951 Business Park Blvd in Anchorage. Stop by to learn more about how ANHC can be your partner in health. Meet our dedicated staff and board members, explore our services, and discover our advocacy efforts and community initiatives. We’ll have refreshments, activities and a chance to see firsthand how ANHC is building a healthier Anchorage for all. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with your health care home!
Lisa D.H. Aquino, MHS, is the CEO of Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center, leveraging her background in public health to drive community-focused health care solutions.