Managing a community health center involves developing many complex administrative systems as well as documenting these systems as Policies and Procedures. This section provides some samples of documents you can customize and use in your center, as well as links to useful websites.
Sample Policies:
• Sample Business Plan
• Sample CHC Patient Bill of Rights
• Sample Standards of Conduct
• Sample FQHC Set-up Checklist
The 340B Drug Pricing Program allows health centers to purchase medications at significantly reduced prices and learn about innovative pharmacy services models.
The American Institute of Architects
The professional membership association for licensed architects, the AIA will provide you with information on building design, materials and working with an architect.
Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP)
The Association for Community Affiliated Plans is a national trade association representing 58 nonprofit safety net health plans in 28 states. ACAP’s mission is to represent and strengthen not-for-profit, safety net health plans as they work with providers and caregivers in their communities to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable populations in a cost-effective manner. Collectively, ACAP plans serve 8 million enrollees, representing over 50 percent of individuals enrolled in Medicaid-focused health plans.
Capital Link
Capital Link has provided planning and capital solutions for hundreds of health center building projects since 1998. We assist health centers and primary care associations in accessing capital for building and equipment purchases, and we provide extensive technical assistance throughout the entire capital development process, from initial idea through completion of your new facility or implementation of your new equipment.
Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT)
CCHIT is a recognized certification body (RCB) for electronic health records and their networks, and an independent, voluntary, private-sector initiative. Its mission is to accelerate the adoption of robust, interoperable health information technology by creating a credible, efficient certification process. Health centers who are in process of selecting an EHR should visit this site to determine which EHR vendors have obtained CCHIT certification. Health centers are strongly encouraged to select EHR vendors who have obtained CCHIT certification.
The Commonwealth Fund is a private foundation that aims to promote a high performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society's most vulnerable, including low-income people, the uninsured, minority Americans, young children, and elderly adults.
The Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Toolkit
A joint collaboration between the Association of Asian and Pacific Islander Health Organizations (AAPCHO) and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), this toolkit was designed to educate and guide community health centers and researchers interested in collaborative research projects and building their research capacity.
Community-Campus Partnerships for Health (CCPH)
Community-Campus Partnerships for Health is a nonprofit organization that promotes health (broadly defined) through partnerships between communities and higher educational institutions. Founded in 1996, we are a growing network of over 2,000 communities and campuses across North America and increasingly the world that are collaborating to promote health through service-learning, community-based participatory research, broad-based coalitions and other partnership strategies. These partnerships are powerful tools for improving higher education, civic engagement and the overall health of communities.
Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA)
FTCA is the medical malpractice insurance for health center providers. There is no cost to participating health centers or their providers, and they are not liable for any settlements or judgments that are made. The Federal Government assumes responsibility for these costs. The health center, their employees and eligible contractors are considered Federal Employees immune from suit for medical malpractice claims while acting within the scope of their employment. Once deemed, Health Center Program grantees are immune from medical malpractice lawsuits resulting from the performance of medical, surgical, dental, or related functions with the approved scope of project.
George Washington University Geiger-Gibson Program in Community Health Policy
Established in 2004, the Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health Policy is named in honor of Drs. H. Jack Geiger and Count Gibson, pioneers in community health practice and tireless advocates for civil and human rights. Nearly 40 years ago, Geiger and Gibson founded the nation's first community health centers in Mound Bayou, Mississippi and Boston, Massachusetts; today, over 1200 health centers serve more than 17 million persons in 7000 urban and rural medically underserved communities across the nation.
Health Center Patient Satisfaction Survey
The Patient Satisfaction Survey is a short, easily administered questionnaire that provides health centers with information and insight on their patients' view of the services they provide. Health centers can use survey results to design and track quality improvement over time, as well as compare themselves to other health centers. The survey form is available in English and Spanish.
Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
HIMSS is the healthcare industry's membership organization exclusively focused on providing leadership for the optimal use of healthcare information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Find general information, educational materials and compliance information on HIPAA.
The Joint Commission (Formerly JCAHO)
The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization that develops standards, evaluates the compliance of organizations against these benchmarks, and provides health care accreditation.
A leader in health policy and communications, the Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit, private operating foundation focusing on the major health care issues facing the U.S., as well as the U.S. role in global health policy. Unlike grant-making foundations, Kaiser develops and runs its own research and communications programs, sometimes in partnership with other non-profit research organizations or major media companies.
Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)
As a professional organization for medical group practice managers and leaders, MGMA provides education, information, and networking opportunities in areas including leadership, compensation, strategic planning, and marketing strategies.
National Academy for State Health Policy
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) is an independent academy of state health policymakers working together to identify emerging issues, develop policy solutions, and improve state health policy and practice.
National Assembly on School-Based Health Care (NASBHC)
NASBHC advocates for national policies, programs, and funding to expand and strengthen school based health centers, while also supporting the movement with training and technical assistance.
National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
The National Association of County and City Health Officials is the national organization representing local health departments. NACCHO supports efforts that protect and improve the health of all people and all communities by promoting national policy, developing resources and programs, seeking health equity, and supporting effective local public health practice and systems.
National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC)
The center provides training, technical assistance, and consultation, in addition to developing products and tools. The “Guide to Planning and Implementing Cultural Competence Organizational Self-Assessment” is a way to plan for incorporating cultural competence within an organization.
National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL)
The National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation's 50 states, its commonwealths and territories. NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues.
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)
NICHCY is a central source of information on disabilities in infants, toddlers, children, and youth, and creates State Resource Sheets that identify organizations and agencies within each state that address disability-related issues.
RCHN Community Health Foundation
The RCHN Community Health Foundation (RCHN CHF) is a not-for-profit operating foundation whose mission is to support and benefit the work of community health centers (CHCs) nationally. RCHN CHF is the only Foundation in the country devoted exclusively to CHCs - the local, non-profit, community-governed health care providers that offer comprehensive primary and preventive care to underserved populations.
The center aims to improve individual and population health by enhancing the delivery of primary care through the generation or synthesis of evidence that brings a family medicine and primary care perspective to health policy deliberations from the local to international levels.
State and Regional PCA Listing
United Health Foundation is committed to helping people lead healthier lives and create brighter futures through our four priorities. We invite you to learn more about us and our mission to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of medical outcomes, to expand access to health care services for those in challenging circumstances and to enhance the well being of communities.
