Erie Family Health Center

You run several locations, including some based in schools, correct? [numbers correspond to locations on map]

Yes, Erie operates two school-based health centers in elementary schools in high impact neighborhoods, one in Humboldt Park (7) and the other in North Lawndale (6).  And we also just opened a new, high-school based health center at Roberto Clemente Community Academy (9)….Our three largest sites are comprehensive primary health facilities: Erie West Town (1) , Erie Humboldt Park (2), and Erie Helping Hands (4).  We also have two dental centers [one next to Erie Helping Hands (8) and the other in the Humboldt Park facility (3)] and an adolescent-only center, Erie Teen Health (5), on Wilson and Damen.

In your own words, how and why did these clinics come into being and why are you involved with them?

Our mission is to serve those in need.  We help ensure that all Chicagoans have access to high quality, culturally sensitive, bilingual health care services – regardless of their ability to pay.  When we talk about Erie we try not to use the word “clinic’ and, instead, focus on the phrase “health center”.  “Clinic” implies an outmoded way of delivering care in the safety net, i.e. take a number and wait and you may or may not be seen by the same doctor.  The words “health center” imply comprehensive care where each patient is treated with dignity and respect; they get to see the same health care provider every time and we attempt to help our patients manage their own care.

On an average day, how many patients do you see and what is the level of care you’re asked to provide?

At Erie’s largest health center, Erie West Town Health Center, we served 13,500 unduplicated patients last year.  Our skilled team of health care providers provides primary health care services, including prenatal care for new moms, well-child care, care for diabetics, case management, and even counseling.  For women, we provide over 1,600 with prenatal care every year and we deliver the babies in the hospital, our pediatricians and family doctors care for the newborns and we see them back in clinic.  For kids, yes, school physicals and shots and checkups, but also we care for a wide range of challenging chronically ill children, some of whom are referred to us by Children’s Memorial Hospital!  For older adults [who often suffer from 5 or more chronic illnesses at a time], we focus on complex chronic disease management.  A shining light at Erie is our HIV/AIDS comprehensive care service with over 20 years experience.  And our oral health services care for very complex cases – sometimes our patients have never ever been to the dentist.  Therefore, our level of care is quite comprehensive and spans all life cycles.  We have access to some of the best hospitals and specialty services in the city as well.

From where does your funding come and how much, if any, arrives from government assistance?

For 2008, 20% of Erie’s funding came from federal grants and 17% from state and local grants.  It is important to note that Erie Family Health Center competes for all of its government funded grants….we must show that we have high quality services and smooth operations.  The state of Illinois has been struggling to pass a budget since late May, with social services and other health care programs at risk of being cut.  Erie has experienced funding reductions from the State impacting several programs.  For families who are already struggling…reducing such services can have devastating effects on the health and vitality of our communities.  Erie Family Health is committed to looking ahead and providing the best care possible to our patients.  Our budget has been realigned in order to meet this need [and] Erie is lucky to have a strong base of philanthropic support.

Exactly how does someone go about being seen in your clinic?

Thanks to Erie’s Open Access scheduling system, patients can see an Erie health care practitioner within five days of calling to set up an appointment.  By encouraging patients to come in sooner, Open Access ensures timely medical treatment, reduces the number of cancellations and no-shows and improves patient flow.  [Here's the process, which is actually quite stream-lined:]

1. Patients … should call 312-666-3494 to set up an appointment.  It is recommended to call at least 5 days in advance. [It can take up to 5 days for an appointment to be scheduled, but a day or two is the average wait time].  Erie does not schedule appointments out further than 5 days.
2. On the day of the appointment, the patient will come to the center they selected.  New patients need to bring: a photo ID, health insurance card (if applicable), and one month’s worth of pay check stubs (if applicable).  The new patient will sign three forms:  consent for treatment, acknowledge of HIPPA [a patient privacy information document], and patient info (name, address, etc.).
3. If an … Erie patient comes… with an emergency, they will be seen by a nurse and it will then be determined if they will need urgent care or a referral.  We are not set up to provide emergency services.

How do people usually hear about your clinics?

Our patients usually hear about Erie through word of mouth…. Our patients even come from many miles away due to Erie’s reputation among their family and friends.  We provide quality care and our providers and front line staff speak Spanish.  I think our patients feel comfortable here, and that’s why they tell their friends.

To visit Erie’s website and read more about its various clinics and the impressive array of services available, go to:  www.eriefamilyhealth.org/.  I also want to thank Dr. Francis for his time and the care taken in answering my questions.