Hannah Henderson Week 1

This first week at the Church Health Center for me was one very full of learning. I spent the better part of the week going on tours of the extensive operation, talking to individuals within the Center (learning what their jobs specifically entailed), and getting an inside view at what they were working towards as an organization, in terms of being able to reach (and therefore benefit) a greater number of Memphis residents and what other benefits they could possibly bring to said community.

            The Church Health Center is really an even more complicated nonprofit than I had previously understood; as one employee was explaining to two other interns and myself, it’s “extremely…I don’t want to use the word ‘convoluted,’ because that has a negative connotation, but everything about this operation has many layers.” What the CHC is probably most well known for is its Clinic, but even that is complicated (we met with a supervisor in the Clinic multiple times, and asked questions the second time as a follow up, and I think I have a pretty good grasp on it). Basically, there are two campuses for the clinic; there’s one on Bellevue, off of Union, and another one about a half mile away, in their Wellness Center. Each clinic offers both a regular appointment section, where patients can come in to see their doctor for a check up, or if they are suffering from something non-emergency related, and a walk-in emergency clinic.

            To get access to the regular service, you have to go through a program called something like “Getting Started” (to be honest, I can’t remember the exact name, but who knows, that may be it), which has a few qualifications, all of which also pertain to the walk-in clinic service and the MEMPHIS Plan, which is where I am working. The requirements include that you work 20 or more hours a week, that you live in TN, and make no more than 200% of the poverty level (and don’t already have health insurance).

            Anyway, the CHC offers the regular clinic, a walk in clinic for emergencies, and then also the MEMPHIS Plan, where I'm working, which is an insurance type of organization (but, they would want me to stress, it’s really really not insurance) which coordinates with patients on the MEMPHIS Plan and sets them up with doctors who volunteer their time and services. The MEMPHIS Plan also brings in specialists, and provides X-rays, general surgery, and various other services for only a co-pay of $5 every time (but those on the plan do have to pay $50 a month, and their employers must pay at least $10 a month).

            I’m sure that I have not done a good job explaining all of this, but this was mostly what my week after Monday was comprised of; learning about how all of this and more works, and sitting in on some meetings with the director of the MEMPHIS Plan (most of them oriented towards quality improvement). I’m still not 100% sure what my summer will look like and the impact that I will be able to have on the CHC and my specific department, but I’m excited to be a part of such a special and impactful organization and am looking forward to the rest of the summer very much.