Greater Seacoast Community Health Hosts Local Events
Greater Seacoast Community Health is hosting a series of events today, February 17th, to provide comprehensive healthcare services to the region. The organization is offering primary, pediatric, prenatal, and dental care. The events are part of its mission to support the health of Seacoast area residents.
- Greater Seacoast Community Health operates as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), a designation for nonprofit organizations that receive federal funding to provide healthcare in underserved areas. For fiscal year 2024, the organization reported revenues of $21.2 million and expenses of $21.6 million. - The organization was formed through the 2018 merger of two long-standing community health organizations: Goodwin Community Health, based in Somersworth, and Families First Health and Support Center in Portsmouth. The current CEO is Jim Avrett, who took over in October 2023 after serving as the organization's COO. - A key part of its strategic plan for 2024-2026 is to transition at least 30% of its primary care patients to a value-based care system by 2027. This model focuses on paying healthcare providers based on patient health outcomes rather than the volume of services delivered. - In 2024, Greater Seacoast served 14,000 unique patients, conducting 35,671 in-person primary care visits and 3,212 telehealth visits. The patient population reflects significant need, with 34% covered by Medicaid and 18% being uninsured. - The organization's mobile health team is a critical component of its service delivery, providing primary care, behavioral health, and substance use disorder services to 903 people experiencing homelessness or housing instability in 2024, a 33% increase from the previous year. These mobile units often leverage technology like satellite internet for connectivity in rural areas. - Strafford County, one of the primary areas served by Greater Seacoast, faces significant public health challenges, including high rates of drug overdose deaths. The county's Community Health Improvement Plan prioritizes mental health, substance use, and access to healthcare resources. - As an FQHC, Greater Seacoast participates in the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which allows it to purchase outpatient drugs at a significant discount and operate an in-house pharmacy. This program is a key operational component for many community health centers.
