Case Study: Community Health Center of Burlington

Community Health Center
Offering health care to uninsured and underinsured citizens

The Community Health Center (CHC) was founded in 1971 by a small group of committed volunteers dedicated to improving access to primary care for families residing in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Burlington. Over the last three decades, the Health Center has grown to one of the largest independent family practices serving the Burlington area, and the only one dedicated to providing healthcare to the poor and uninsured.

In 1988, through a federal Stewart McKinney grant, the CHC was able to implement a full spectrum of social and medical services to the homeless. In 1993 CHC successfully applied to the Public Health Service for financial support and designation as a Federally Qualified Health Center. This funding made it possible to move to a modern facility with more available provider time and comprehensive health and human services.

The Health Center sees between 50 and 100 patients a day. Half of the patients are on Medicaid programs, 16% are without insurance, and 5-10% are homeless. CDC also serves a large non-English speaking population. Vietnamese, Bosnian, Serbo-Croatian, French and Spanish are available from trained, professional and confidential Health Center interpreters.

CHC collaborate with many other community organizations and health care providers to expand its services. After renovation of the new building, CHC will hand over space to local compatible non-profit organizations.

Cross Sectoral Benefits

Environment: Renovation of an abandoned and visibly distressed building.

Economy: Free and low cost prescriptions were dispensed to low income patients.

Governance: 51% of the board of directors have to be "consumers of the health center".

Social: CHC cared for over 1100 homeless men, women and children. Over 24,000 patient visits per year serving over 10,000 Vermonters, most of who are the working poor, recent refugees, homeless and impoverished.

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