Community-Led Safety Net Provider Collaborative: A Novel Approach to Regional Community-Based Research

Independent clinics and private physicians serving significant numbers of Medicaid recipients play an essential role in the Safety Net, and have tremendous impact on the health of their patients through long-standing relationships and a high degree of trust. They also possesses the cultural competency, clinical knowledge, and community-connectedness to inform the need for and design of research and clinical initiatives relevant to their patient populations. However, because these practices are typically under-resourced and lack the administrative infrastructure to plan and undertake such research, they – and therefore their patients – are often left out of investigations that may shape best practices, improve service delivery models, and inform systems change to improve the health status of underserved communities. In response to specific concerns regarding the unknown prevalence of Hepatitis C among low-income African Americans in Oakland and Richmond, California, Roots Community Health Center, acting as a “hub” organization, designed and implemented an initiative to routinize Hepatitis C screening in four independent primary care practices. This coordinated effort has revealed an overwhelmingly high rate of Hepatitis C positive patients on routine screening – over 10 times the average nationwide.  

results: Alarmingly high rates of Hepatitis C were discovered upon routine screening as the result of a coordinated, community-led research initiative.  

conclusion: Independent Safety Net practices represent untapped sources of invaluable information on low-income communities of color. As such collaborative efforts among similarly community-rooted providers, led by a “hub” organization, is an innovative and promising approach to engaging them in public health research.