Community Health Centers (CHCs) are a critically important part of our health care system in Hawai‘i. They provide comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary health care services to medically underserved communities and vulnerable populations.
Health centers are community-based and patient-directed organizations that serve populations with limited access to health care. These include low income populations, the uninsured, those with limited English proficiency, migrant and seasonal farm workers, individuals and families experiencing homelessness, and those living in public housing.
- Located in or serve a high need community
- Governed by a community board composed of a majority (51% or more) of health center patients who represent the population served
- Provide comprehensive primary health care services as well as supportive services (education, translation and transportation, etc.) that promote access to health care.
- Provide services available to all with fees adjusted based on ability to pay.
- People of all ages.
- People without and with health insurance.
- People of all races and ethnicities.
- Special populations.
Community health centers provide an array of comprehensive, high quality, cost-effective care to more than 127,000 patients. There are fourteen community health centers, with more than 82 service locations on all six major islands. They are the healthcare leaders in effective treatment and management of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and depression.
- Hawaii Primary Care Association
www.hawaiipca.net - Health Resources and Services Administration
http://bphc.hrsa.gov/about - National Association of Community Health Centers, Inc
www.nachc.org - HRSA UDS Data
https://bphc.hrsa.gov/uds/datacenter.aspx?q=d&bid=0912120&state=HI&year=2018