Maryland health centers face challenges amid influx of new patients

BALTIMORE -- Community health centers often are the only option for low-income families to receive healthcare.

But these centers are facing more challenges as they work to keep their doors open for people in need.

In Maryland, the largest group of patients these centers see are children. According to the most recent data from the National Association of Community Health Centers, more than 95,000 children use community health center services. Mainly, because two dozen community health centers are located at schools.

Two-thirds of the patients who use these centers are also people of color coming from marginalized communities.

Community health centers in the state are noticing a rise in patients coming through the doors but are worried that limited funding won't allow them to keep up with the demand. CEO Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health Centers Nora Hoban says over the past decade they noticed a 22 percent increase in patients at these centers in Maryland.

More than 340,000 patients across Maryland use community health centers. About 87 percent of them are people living under the federal poverty level by making $30,000 or less a year.

Often times, patients are seeking services like vaccinations, dental care or annual wellness visits. But Hoban says some patients rely on these centers because they have chronic health conditions and visit about four times a year. 

"We are really in a situation where we have a healthcare system that is all geared around sickness instead of wellness," Hoban said. "And our model is all about wellness but we need those investments to continue to do what we do."

Hoban said that's why these centers offer other services like mental health and OBGYN care.

But as the demand grows, Hoban said they need funding to help train and retain healthcare workers.

"I think that would change the dynamics," she said. "We wouldn't have all these healthcare institutions, hospitals, skill nursing facility, all those long term care rehabilitation hospitals fighting for the same staff to keep our doors open."

Technology is another aspect they want to invest in. Hoban said many patients use telehealth because they do not have transportation to access their care in person. That's why there are more than 130 service delivery sites in Maryland to help accommodate patients needs.

"I am incredibly grateful that our health centers have the opportunity to open their doors to more folks," Hoban said. "But at the same time, I'm nervous because if we are not adequately funded it's going to take longer to get appointments. We are not going to have the teams in place that we need to accommodate those increase in our patient populations."