Top Provider: Erie Co. Health Department Community Health Center earns title
Takes Gold third straight year
SANDUSKY — A relentless commitment to excellence drives the Erie County Health Department, health Commissioner Pete Schade said, announcing that the Community Health Center has again this year been recognized for painting the highest healthcare standards.
The Health Center has once again placed among the elite safety-net providers in the United States, securing the prestigious Health Center Quality Leader – Gold award from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration for the third consecutive year.
The national recognition places the center in the top 10% of more than 1,400 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) operating across the nation for overall clinical quality performance.
Out of 1,400+ FQHCs nationwide, our local center is one of only 139 health centers across the country—and one of just five in the state of Ohio—to achieve Gold status this year.
Honoring comprehensive care
In addition to the top Gold designation, the Erie County Community Health Center earned national quality badges recognizing clinical performance, preventative medicine, and technology adoption:
Health Center Quality Leader – Gold: Awarded to health centers achieving the top 10% in overall clinical quality performance nationwide.
National Quality Leader – Cancer Screening: Recognizes excellence in life-saving preventative screening rates for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers.
National Quality Leader – Diabetes: Highlights exceptional clinical management and blood sugar control outcomes for diabetic patients.
National Quality Leader – Heart Health: Honors top performance in cardiovascular care, blood pressure management, and cholesterol tracking.
Advancing Health Information Technology (HIT): Celebrates advanced technology adoption to optimize electronic records, patient portals, and telehealth access.
Improving Healthcare Access: Recognizes centers expanding patient volume, clinical services, and comprehensive care access year-over-year.
Preventive Health Badge: Highlights outstanding delivery of routine adult immunizations, childhood vaccinations, and early wellness screenings.
Reaction
The recognition validates the health center’s efforts to expand affordable, top-tier healthcare access throughout Erie, Huron, and Ottawa counties.
“Achieving national Gold status for three consecutive years reflects the incredible dedication, skill, and heart our entire clinical team brings to work every day,” said Troy Chaffin, Chief Executive Officer of the Erie County Community Health Center. “Earning three distinct National Quality Leader awards in Cancer Screening, Diabetes, and Heart Health validates that our patients receive top-tier primary and preventative care right here in their home community, regardless of their ability to pay.”
Erie County Health Commissioner Peter T. Schade echoed those sentiments, pointing to ongoing investments in clinical infrastructure and regional access.
“Being recognized as one of only five FQHCs in Ohio to earn this level of recognition is a testament to our organization’s relentless commitment to public health excellence,” added Health Commissioner Peter T. Schade. “We continuously invest in expanding access, updating medical and health IT infrastructure, and removing barriers to care across Erie County. These national awards prove that safety-net healthcare in our region is delivering some of the absolute highest clinical quality in the nation.”
How to Access Services
As a Federally Qualified Health Center, the Erie County Community Health Center operates nine locations across Erie, Huron, and Ottawa counties. Services include comprehensive primary care, dental care, behavioral health, and preventative care for all area residents.
The Health Center accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurance, and offers a sliding-fee discount scale based on family size and household income.
Website: eriecohealthohio.com
Phone / Appointments: (419) 626-5623
Media Contact: Pete Schade, Health Commissioner |
pschade@echdohio.org| (567) 867-5112.