Looking after the other front line in the COVID-19 pandemic

By Dennis Archambault

Hospital emergency services and critical care capacity have been defined as the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, hospitals are the first line of response when the symptoms of infected people manifest into a critical state. As has been documented, many of those vulnerable to COVID-19 have underlying health problems, such as diabetes, hypertension and other chronic diseases. Many people with low income must contend with poor access to primary and preventive health services that can bolster their immune response to diseases such as COVID-19. Those services are at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This population resides in areas of our region served by community health centers, such as federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and other health centers such as Authority Health’s Popoff Family Health Center, on Detroit’s Eastside, and its pediatric practice serving young people on the northwest side. As COVID-19 gets great attention during the pandemic, the need for primary care of serious conditions may be overlooked, especially as health centers struggle to maintain their financial stability (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/04/us/coronavirus-community-clinics-seattle.html). Several community health centers have had to reduce staff, and primary care physician offices have closed. Authority Health is among the health centers maintaining access to primary care, in large part through its virtual health capabilities (http://www.authorityhealth.org/popoff-family-health-center/). The need for primary care is still very important in maintaining the overall health of the community and preventing hospitalizations for chronic illnesses. FQHCs are among the few access points for dental emergencies.

The CARES Act provides some aid to FQHCs, but it will only last about a month. The federal government needs to focus on the immediate pressures on supplying hospitals and caregivers with the necessary equipment. But it also needs to look at the country’s primary care infrastructure, especially the role that community health centers play as a front line for all diseases.

Dennis Archambault is vice president of Public Affairs for Authority Health.