3 min read June 2023 — In an interview with Invest:, Debra Weeks, CEO of The C.W. Williams Community Health Center, Inc. discussed the guiding principles of the center, the demand for its services and how it prepares to navigate economic uncertainty. She also spoke about her vision for the healthcare industry to create a more affordable and accessible system, with a focus on prevention and addressing the underlying causes of medical issues.
As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), what are some of the guiding principles that ensure high-quality care?
Our guiding principle is to ensure that everyone receives quality affordable care. Essentially, this means that the FQHC is not a free clinic… we provide access to care at an affordable rate. All patients may apply for the slide fee discount program, which allows them to receive the same care as anyone insured. We want our community to know that we do not want them to avoid medical or support services and medication due to the burden of other expenses, family limitations, limited income, etc., 340b pharmacy service is another form of assistance from the government that we are thankful for because it makes drugs more affordable. As an example, 0ur patients can pay $10 for a drug that may cost $80 in the private industry or pharmacy because of 340B. Our guiding principle is to ensure that everyone is entitled to the same care regardless of their circumstances.
How has demand for services shifted and what does that say about the current market?
During COVID, we emphasized telehealth and people became accustomed to seeking healthcare in this environment. At this time patients have, for the most part, returned to in-office visits. There is certainly an increased demand for substance use treatment. Our providers are trained and prepared to provide buprenorphine services, as well as substance use education. Additional education and support services are needed for both the primary care provider and our community at large.
Additionally, we now offer Traditional Chinese Medicine, including acupuncture, acupressure, and herbal medicine delivery. This provides people with another way to learn more about our bodies, lymphatic and nervous systems and manage pain and so much more. It also assists substance users in learning how to relieve pain without becoming dependent on medication.
In what ways do you hope to see the healthcare industry evolve in regard to creating a more affordable and accessible system?
FQHCs clearly demonstrated our impact during the pandemic. CWWCHC services were widely available. We met people where they were through mobile medicine and telemedicine, tested and vaccinated in communities throughout NC and partnered with our community-based organizations and local, state and federal partners. Hospitals are realizing that the system of FQHCs are needed to assist and together we will achieve patient wellness based on the collaborative model. FQHCs save over $400 million in North Carolina alone and $4 billion throughout the United States. Hospitals benefit from working with us by reducing the number of emergency room visits and increasing preventive services.
CWWCHC intends to focus on prevention, rather than just crisis management. Shifting our attention, as the old proverb goes- an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. CWWCHC will focus on Women’s Health and assist to decrease the ever-growing infant mortality and unhealthy births experienced in NC, especially among Black and Latino families. Educating young people about maintaining a healthy uterus before pregnancy is one way in which we can begin to address this issue. Our new model will also examine the underlying causes that prevent healthy births in these communities.
Another important aspect of prevention is promoting healthier eating habits. We all need to refocus on healthy nutrition and its impact on our bodies. Experience teaches us that it is essential to take care of our bodies from a young age, as neglecting our health can have long-term consequences. As business professionals, we often find ourselves sitting for hours on end and not paying attention to ourselves and our health. It is critical to share our experiences with others and educate them on the importance of healthy eating habits and exercise routines, particularly with children.
CWWCHC will also encourage men to have conversations about their emotional and psychological well-being, as this can has a significant impact on their families. Through communication and sharing, we can make positive changes in our communities and help people lead healthier, happier lives.
How has technology impacted the healthcare industry and C.W. Williams?
We thought we were technologically savvy before the pandemic but soon discovered there was so much more to learn. We need technological systems in place, and actual IT infrastructure support. For example, we’ve had electronic health records for at least 10 to 15 years but now they’re much more advanced and you practically must be an IT genius to run a report.
Technology has been wonderful as an asset, but also a financial burden on our system of care. We are regularly educating and re-educating employees on how to utilize and maximize the system to provide patients with the best service and collect the best information to improve access and outcomes. We all need reliable IT that’s affordable to support us, and to safeguard ourselves and our patient information from hacking. Multifunction or multifactor authorization and other secondary and tertiary steps are necessary, although sometimes challenging.
What is your outlook for C.W. Williams in the near term and what are your top priorities?
The C. W. Williams Community Health Center, Inc. is excited to announce that our 3333 Wilkinson Blvd. building in Charlotte, On the West side will begin our rebuild of the building starting July 2023. This project will take approximately one year. We are focused on providing the community with a beautiful environment where they and their family and friends will be happy to receive care.
CWWCHC will focus on Women’s and Children’s Health, Men’s Health, Holistic Care, other SDOH programs and IT development. We are also exploring ways to keep people encouraged throughout the post-pandemic malaise, which is why we’re focusing on behavioral health. We’re creating systems to keep people healthy and advocating for patients by taking patient advocacy to a new level. We’re partnering with various institutions and CBOs to improve women’s health and assist patients to understand their rights, entitlements and how to ask questions. CWWCHC transportation and Mobile Medicine program, not only picks up the patient from their homes, but we also take them to their referral appointments.
We are engaging our staff, including our drivers, to understand why collecting patient information is important. We’re not a social service program but we work in tandem with social services and integrate our medical care with behavioral health and social services. We know that one works well with the other and we must work together to build services around the needs of our community.
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