Journey from Free
Clinic to FQHC
Monica Medina McCurdy, PA-C
VP, Healthcare Services
Project HOME
James Plumb, MD, MPH
Vice Chair – Community Medicine
Director, Center for Urban Health,
Thomas Jefferson Univ. Hospital
Who’s in the room?

Free clinic staff?

Free clinics who already decided to pursue FQHC or
Look-Alike?

Patients of free clinics?

Any hospital representatives present?

Any behavioral health providers present? Dental
providers?

Charitable foundations?

Health insurers?

Health professions students?
The “M” in Project HOME: The First 18 Years
Project HOME is founded by
Sister Mary Scullion (Exec.
Director) and Joan Dawson
McConnon (CFO)
1989
Services at St. Elizabeth’s start
in partnership with Jefferson
Family Medicine. Two Jefferson
MDs with students see patients
weekly. Continues to present
time.
1992
JeffHOPE medical students
from Thomas Jefferson
University volunteer at a
Project HOME shelter for
chronically homeless men
(1992-2000)
1997
Philanthropist Steve Klein
steps forward with interest
in making major contribution
to “wellness” initiative.
2002
RN hired as Health
Services Coordinator
from 2002-2008.
2006-2008
Jefferson
Family
Medicine
starts formal
resident
continuity
clinic @ St. E’s
2009-2010
Physician Assistant and Office
Manager hired. Site acquisition
begins for future Stephen Klein
Wellness Center
Original Home: St. Elizabeth’s Wellness Center: 1845 N. 23rd Street, Philadelphia 19121
Current Home: Stephen Klein Wellness Center, 2100 Cecil B. Moore Ave., Philadelphia 19121
Strategic Growth of the “M” in Project HOME: 2011-2013*
Project HOME is
awarded HRSA
Health Center
Planning Grant.
2011
Keystone First 2-Yr Pilot Study
initiated; part-time Nurse added;
Behavioral health partners form
City-funded coalition with
Project HOME and Jefferson to
provide on-site BH services.
VP position approved
in March to oversee
growth of health care
services (position
filled Oct)
Architect selected;
design of 28,000 sq ft
Stephen Klein
Wellness Center
begins
2012
Wellness Center
Community Advisory
Board, 1st Meeting;
3rd Jefferson Physician
added
St. Elizabeth’s
renovation
completed (1 to
4 exam rooms)
2013
Full-time Director of
Clinical Services
(Physician Assistant)
added; New Access
Point Application
submitted
NEW ACCESS
POINT GRANT
AWARDED
FROM HRSA!
FQHC STATUS
OBTAINED!
*Also in 2013: Nurse increased to full time; Physician Assistant added; EHR system purchased; 100%
design completed on new Stephen Klein Wellness Center; Financial Assistance Specialist, Receptionist,
Medical Assistant, Community Health Worker, Healing Touch Practitioner added
Strategic Growth of the “M” in Project HOME: 2014-2017
First Patient
Satisfaction
Survey
SKWC
Groundbreaking
2014
NextGen
goes live;
first time
billing
First Medical
Director
hired; started
service site
at Pathways
to Housing
First HRSA
Operational
Site Visit
2015
SKWC OPENS!
December 23,
2014 w/
Primary care &
behavioral
health
Opening of
340b
Pharmacy
2016
Opening of
Dental Practice
Expansion at
Pathways, Center
of Excellence
2017
2nd HRSA
Operational
Site Visit
*Between 2009 to now, when from 1 employee to over 40 employees
2018-20
Future
growth,
addition of
new sites
Where to start?

Read

Visit

Partner
Important websites
Mechanics of Starting an FQHC

HRSA Bureau of Primary Health Care

Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers

Health Federation of Philadelphia
FQHC Finance

National Association of Community Health Centers
Integrated Healthcare / Social Determinants of Health

SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions

Kaiser Family Foundation

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Professional Liability

HRSA Bureau of Primary Health Care
Definitions, Acronyms

FQHC vs. FQHC Look-Alike

330 Grant

Community Health Center vs. Special Populations Health
Center (board requirements)

PPS Rate (Prospective Payment System)

Medicaid, Medicare, Dual-Eligibles

Medically Underserved Areas and Medically Underserved
Populations

HPSA (Health Professional Shortage Area)

FTCA (Federal Tort Claim Act)

340B Drug Pricing Program

Uniform Data Systems
Develop Partnerships

Hospitals, Residency Programs, and Academic Health
Centers

Behavioral health providers

Pharmacies

Health education

Affordable Housing

Legal

Volunteers

Emergency Food Pantries
Project HOME
Jefferson
Partnership
Thomas Jefferson University, located in Philadelphia,
is dedicated to the health sciences and community
health via education, research, and health services to
improve the health of the populations we serve.
Department of Family and
Community Medicine

Vision: The Department of Family and Community Medicine
will transform healthcare to eliminate health inequities.

Mission: The Department will be a leader at Jefferson
Health, nationally and globally in reducing health inequities
by:

providing exemplary patient- and family-centered clinical
care;

nurturing health professional students and physicians to be
excellent clinicians, leaders, teachers and advocates;

promoting health and wellness through community based-care,
partnerships and education;

generating new knowledge that impacts the delivery of
comprehensive population and evidence-based care focusing
on prevention and chronic disease management.
COMMUNITY MEDICINE/HEALTH

Care to vulnerable populations

Health promotion through programs and community engagement
and partnerships
Epidemiology
Center for Urban Health
Biostatistics
Environmental Health
Health Services
Research
Community
Public Health
Medicine/Health
Social/Behavioral
Determinants
Center City, North and South Philadelphia
Project Home, Nationalities Services Center, Churches, YMCA, Senior Centers,
Norris Square Civic Association, SHARE, PHS, Food Trust, Dixon House, South
East Philadelphia Collaborative, United Communities, SEAMAAC, Refugee
Mental Health Collaborative, Schools, YMCA, Federation of Neighborhood
Centers, Welcoming Center, Maternity Care Coalition, PCA, PDPH
DFCM/TJU/TJUH
Primary
Care
Mazzoni, Jeff HOPE,
Refugee Health
Center, YES,
PATHWAYS, Steven
Klein Wellness Center
P
Wellness Center –
INTERDISCIPLINARY
STREET CLINIC
RESPITE CARE
HOME VISIT PRG
JEFFERSON PRIMARY
CARE
R
DENTAL CARE
adults, children
acute care, preventive
screening, oral health
education
Housing
Education
Job Training
D and A
Treatment
O
J
E
C
T
INTEGRATION SERVICES
COMMUNITY-BASED
MENTAL HEALTH
CARE
Counseling/Prevention
programs/Case
Management: D&A,
mental health, IPV,
Child maltreatment
Wellness Center Director
Reception & Central Scheduling
Patient Navigator / Care
Coordination
Targeted Case Management
Community Health Workers &
Peer Specialists
Nutrition Education & Consultation
Child Care
PHARMACY & LAB
SERVICES
PHYSICAL
THERAPY
Medical
Legal Clinic
H
YMCA
Referrals from PH sites,
Jeff Primary Care,
JFMA, Mental Health
Services, Physical
Therapy
NORTH PHILLY
“WALKING
NEIGHBORHOOD”
PROJECT
Center for
Urban Health
O
M
E
Q&A

about FQHCs or Look-Alikes?

about partnerships with Academic Health Centers?

other issues we did not cover?