First off, let’s define what a federally-qualified health center (FQHC) is: it is defined as a community-based organization that provides comprehensive primary care and preventive care, including health, oral, and mental health/substance abuse services in underserved areas to persons of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay or health insurance status.
An FQHC is much more than the patients it serves and the health professionals it employs – it requires seamless day-to-day operation. There are 7 FQHC’s in Nebraska and OneWorld Community Health Center is the largest in the state. On Saturday, February 27, 2021, in a virtual space, forty (40) HCOP undergraduate and health professional students learned more about Omaha, Nebraska’s own federally-qualified health center (OneWorld Community Health Centers, Inc.) from the perspective of one of its leadership, Mr. Joel Dougherty - Chief Operating Officer (COO) of OneWorld Community Health Centers, Inc.
Mr. Dougherty shared information surrounding the history of OneWorld Community Health Centers, Inc., what makes an FQHC operate “smoothly”, federal funding it receives, and some amazing accomplishments shared by the communities they serve and beyond.
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