Why Work in a Community Health Center?

Join a team of health professionals, community members, and patients working together on effective, long term, community-based solutions for meeting primary health care needs in medically-underserved areas and among populations suffering from health disparities.

Funded in part by the federal Health Services Resources Administration, CHCs are unique in three ways:

  • Universal Access: Anyone can receive care at a CHC regardless of income or insurance status through a sliding-fee scale based on income.

  • Cost Effectiveness: CHCs focus on primary and preventive health care including patient education and support. Services include medical, dental, and behavioral health care, with support services to reduce barriers to care (translation & bilingual staff, transportation, assistance with insurance eligibility, low-cost pharmacy programs).

  • Community Accountability: Each CHC is a non-profit governed by a Board of Directors that draws at least half of its board members from the patients who use the services of the health center.

    • Provide quality health care to underserved populations.

    • Reduce health disparities among those experiencing barriers to health care.

    • Conduct outreach to community members who don’t traditionally come in to clinics.

    • Work in an organization with focus and support for accomplishing these goals.

    • Take advantage of growing opportunities for professional growth.

    • Federal and state programs provide scholarship and loan repayment programs for many health professional occupations. Working at a CHC meets eligibility requirements for these programs.

    • National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program

    • National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program

    • Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program

    • Minnesota Department of Health State Loan Repayment & Forgiveness Programs

    • Association membership in the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement available.

    • Internal quality programs supported through Health Services Resources Administration.

    • Clinical quality focus on preventive care & chronic disease management.

    • Statewide quality reporting & benchmarking.

    • Facility standards reviews and/or accreditation by Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

    • Competitive salaries & benefits.

    • Professional malpractice coverage (FTCA) for employees of CHCs that receive federal funds under Section 330 of the PHS Act.

    • Statewide association of CHCs for peer networking and sharing best practices.

    • Training & technical assistance on health care reform issues.