Each year, the Health Resources and Services Administration awards Community Health Centers across the country with Community Health Quality Recognitions (CHQR). These CHQRs are given to federally qualified health centers who have achieved exceptional growth in areas of access, quality, and services.
The US Department of Health and Human Services recently recognized Shawnee Health as a “Health Center Quality Leader” for being among the top 20% percent of health centers in the nation. Along with the Quality leader recognition, Shawnee Health received an additional five recognitions including:
National Quality LeaderAchieved top 20% overall clinical quality measure (CQM) performance among all health centers in the US. |
Access EnhancerIncreased number of new patients by at least five percent from the previous year. |
Health Disparities ReducerImproved services for racial/ethnic groups within the southern Illinois region. |
Advancing HIT for QualityExpanded access to health information technology and improved telehealth services to allow for quick communication between providers and patients. |
COVID-19 Public Health ChampionShawnee Health placed in the top 10% of health centers that provided COVID-19 vaccinations or testing. |
Patient Centered Medical HomeThe patient-centered medical home is a model that puts patients at the forefront of care. Shawnee Health implemented the PCMH model to improve quality and patient experience. |
Shawnee Health was one of only four FQHCs in the state to receive six CHQRs. They would like to thank HRSA for recognizing them in these categories, and they are honored to be recipients of these awards!
They would like to extend a special thanks to their staff for bringing the best quality of care to the southern Illinois community.
Shawnee Health Service is proud to celebrate National Health Center Week 2020 from August 9 – August 15. National Health Center Week is an annual celebration with the goal of raising awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s health centers over the past five decades. National Health Center Week 2020 will be celebrated both in person and virtually this year, elevating the work that Community Health Centers have done while fighting on the front lines of COVID-19 to keep our communities healthy and safe.
Shawnee Health Service provides integrated primary medical and behavioral health care, dental care, and specialty care to southern Illinoisans regardless of ability to pay. Community Health Centers, like Shawnee Health Service, are not just healers, we are innovators who look beyond medical charts to address the factors that may cause poor health, such as poverty, homelessness, substance use, mental illness, lack of nutrition, and unemployment.
While COVID-19 continues to exacerbate social and medical inequities across the country, Community Health Centers have stretched themselves to reconfigure services for those in need. Shawnee Health Service has pivoted to serving our community through telehealth, drive-through COVID-19 testing with interpretation services on site, and distribution of emergency resources, while still ensuring our patients can access the medical care that they need.
Since its inception in 1971, Shawnee Health Service has worked to improve the health and welfare of southern Illinois residents through the promotion, development and administration of quality, comprehensive health and social services. Shawnee Health Service believes that quality health care is a right, and continuously strives to ensure that patients receive the highest quality health care without regard to age, race, religion, sex, financial status, or where they live.