As we near our 50th anniversary, I reflect on the humble beginnings of Providence Community Health Centers. It was a very turbulent time in our country, and members of the community wanted to bring good health care to inner-city residents.
Today, PCHC is a major provider of primary care in the city and responsible for taking care of more than 50,000 patients through 10 strategically located neighborhood-based facilities.
PCHC has seen many changes, but the one thing that hasn't changed is the commitment to our mission. We are blessed with a highly skilled and experienced staff, and that is how it should be. It is the passion for our mission that every one of our 400 employees embrace and it drives them to make a difference for the Providence community.
We are here to meet our patients' needs – this is what motivates me every day.
In the end, however, it is not enough to just have passion for our mission. That may not pay the bills and sustain us.
For example, we must have sustainable business plans and realistic revenue projections. We must control costs, perform audits and build reserves. We must embrace board oversight and maintain compliance plans. And above all, we must operate in a professional and ethical manner.
In fact, we must be above reproach in all that we do, as we must maintain the sacred trust of the community to ensure that the organization can survive and thrive for the next 50 years. •