One of the most gratifying aspects of grant making is seeing the various elements of a project come to life through the communities and people who are served. I recently had the honor of representing Cambia Health Foundation at the grand opening of the Meridian Center for Health in Seattle, Washington. This new Federally Qualified Health Center fully integrates comprehensive services for a one-stop, total health and wellness experience.
My journey to the Center was as unique as the community it serves and the care it provides. I secured transportation with Uber. Like health care, the forces of change in this service area are great. Case in point: a service that could have been delivered in a transactional way became a more personalized experience. My driver was excited to let me know that he was already very familiar with this new health center, as it is in his neighborhood.
His family’s first visit was not because someone was sick, but because someone in his neighborhood was talking about this new community resource that is more than about going to the doctor when you are sick. Originally from Somalia, he has lived in America for 15 years, five years as a citizen. With Blake Shelton playing on his iPhone, he talked about how proud he was to be a citizen of a country where people cared so much about each other. I too was immediately filled with pride: Two very different people sharing common ground through a personalized interaction, not a transaction.
Meridian Center for Health represents a commitment of Cambia Health Foundation to creating a consumer-focused, transparent health care system where, above all, the delivery of care is responsive to the unique needs of those it serves. During my visit, I met a young medial assistant employed at the health center. He came to America as a boy and his parents both worked two jobs so he could have a better future. He is going to become an RN so he can give back to his community and help support his family. His perspective and commitment reflects the intentions of the Meridian Center for Health, Valley Cities, King County Public Health and its partners in this community-centered model of care.
A Welcome Center greets all who walk in the front doors, setting a tone that everyone is valued and will be working together to support healthier people and a stronger community. This is not transactional; it is personal. And respectful. It sets a tone and provides an example of how health care can and should be. Welcome, indeed.
My journey to the Center was as unique as the community it serves and the care it provides. I secured transportation with Uber. Like health care, the forces of change in this service area are great. Case in point: a service that could have been delivered in a transactional way became a more personalized experience. My driver was excited to let me know that he was already very familiar with this new health center, as it is in his neighborhood.
His family’s first visit was not because someone was sick, but because someone in his neighborhood was talking about this new community resource that is more than about going to the doctor when you are sick. Originally from Somalia, he has lived in America for 15 years, five years as a citizen. With Blake Shelton playing on his iPhone, he talked about how proud he was to be a citizen of a country where people cared so much about each other. I too was immediately filled with pride: Two very different people sharing common ground through a personalized interaction, not a transaction.
Meridian Center for Health represents a commitment of Cambia Health Foundation to creating a consumer-focused, transparent health care system where, above all, the delivery of care is responsive to the unique needs of those it serves. During my visit, I met a young medial assistant employed at the health center. He came to America as a boy and his parents both worked two jobs so he could have a better future. He is going to become an RN so he can give back to his community and help support his family. His perspective and commitment reflects the intentions of the Meridian Center for Health, Valley Cities, King County Public Health and its partners in this community-centered model of care.
A Welcome Center greets all who walk in the front doors, setting a tone that everyone is valued and will be working together to support healthier people and a stronger community. This is not transactional; it is personal. And respectful. It sets a tone and provides an example of how health care can and should be. Welcome, indeed.