Community and Nurse-Managed Health Centers

This book provides a step-by-step guide to starting and sustaining a community health center, with an emphasis on nurse-managed centers. The authors share their firsthand knowledge with readers, including information on developing a mission statement, pulling together an advisory board, writing a business plan, and getting funding. The process for obtaining Federally Qualified Health Center Status (and thus federal funding) is described.

Of great value is the book's Appendix, which provides very useful examples. They include sample bylaws, a full policy and procedure manual, physician and nurse practitioner collaborative agreements, job descriptions, a contract with a local agency, and outcome and assessment guidelines.

Donna Torrisi is the founder of The Family Practice and Counseling Network in Philadelphia, which provides primary health services to public housing residents; Tine Hansen-Turton is the Executive Director of the National Nursing Centers Consortium.

1. Introduction
2. Organizational Development
3. Initial Planning
4. Ongoing Planning
5. Funding
6. Financial Operations
7. Policies and Procedures
8. Continuous Quality/Performance Improvement
9. Information Systems

Appendix: A Start-up Tool Kit
A. Governing Board Bylaws
B. Sample Mission Statement
C. Sample Strategic Planning Policy
D. Sample Strategic Plan
E. Sample Health Care Plan
F. Sample Business Plan
G. Sample of a Contract with a Local Agency
H. Funding Sources
I. Sample Policy and Procedure Manual
J. Sample Physician Collaborative Agreement
K. Sample Nurse Practitioner - Collaborative Physician Practice Agreement
L. Sample Job Descriptions
M. Summary of HIPAA Requirements and Procedures
N. Sample Performance Improvement Plan: Assessing Outcomes