MOVING OFFSITE: STRATEGIC
CONSIDERATIONS ENSURING ACCESS IN
CHANGING PUBLIC HOUSING
Melissa Fox
Managing Director of Health Services
Public Health Management Corporation
Philadelphia, PA
WHO IS PHMC?
• Regional non-profit public health institute
• Over 350 programs serving over 300,000
people annually
• Five Federally-Qualified Health Centers
• Long-standing relationship with Philadelphia
Housing Authority
HISTORY OF PHMC HEALTH CONNECTION
• PHMC Health Connection
– Originally affiliated with
Temple University until
December 2005
– Located within Norris
Apartments
– 3 exam rooms
PHMC HEALTH CONNECTION TODAY
HISTORY OF RISING SUN HEALTH CENTER
• Originally part of
LaSalle University
• 4 exam rooms and
extremely limited
parking
• Located within Fairhill
Development
Rising Sun Health Center Today
KEY CONSIDERATIONS
• Population was changing. (aging, mobile,
technologically savvy)
• Housing developments were changing.
• Needed more space to accommodate growth
• Allowed for more meaningful partnerships
with other community organizations
• Public transportation was conducive to
relocation.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS
• PHMC has a waiver of the 51%
board majority governance requirement.
– Community Advisory Boards (CAB) in force for
each health center within the network
– Each CAB receives full report on Quality measures,
and general health center performance.
– Reports are provided regularly to the PHMC
Corporate Board.
• Not immediately
Risk Points
within the housing
development.
• Wouldn’t be easily
identifiable as a
partner with the
housing authority.
• Concerns about
perception as a public
housing grantee
THERE WAS A LOT TO CONSIDER.
POSITIONING FOR SUCCESS
• Solicited feedback from the residents
• Established closer relationship with the
housing authority
• Partnership with community organizations
which also support public housing residents
(Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha )
POSITIONING FOR SUCCESS
• Community Advisory Board representation for
public housing residents
• Positioning as a community “resource”
• Location was KEY.
Thank you for your time.
QUESTIONS?