Dr. Daniel Rosa grew up in the Bronx as the son of Puerto Rican immigrants. After getting his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, he came back to New York City and worked at a medical center in Midtown. But his trajectory changed during a simple exchange with his father, who reminded Rosa of a dream he had years ago, just a few days before he passed away suddenly.
“He said, ‘You know, you made a promise that someday you would return to your old neighborhood in the south Bronx to take care of your people,’” Rosa says.
Soon after his father passed, Rosa fulfilled this promise: He was hired as the senior medical director at the Acacia Network, one of the largest social service organizations in NYC and a partner of La Casa De Salud, a federally-qualified health center (FQHC) in the Bronx. It provides affordable access to care to anyone who needs it, especially marginalized New Yorkers.
Rosa is just one of the many providers that’s incredibly passionate about their work at La Casa de Salud.
“It takes a special person to work in an FQHC,” says Dr. David C. Collymore, chief medical officer at the Acacia Network. “Everyday we dedicate our efforts and energy to meeting the needs of communities that need us most. There is no more fulfilling atmosphere to work in.”
Now, booking an appointment with one of these providers is easier than ever: La Casa De Salud has started listing appointments on Zocdoc to get the word out that it has passionate doctors readily available to offer culturally-competent, affordable care. While it remains grounded in its Bronx roots, the center is partnering with Zocdoc to reach more of the New York City community.
“We want to be a real alternative for New Yorkers,” says Gabriela Gonzalez, assistant vice president of communications and development at the Acacia Network.
There are nearly 1,400 FQHCs in the US, all funded by the United States Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Each year, these health centers serve millions of underserved Americans. La Casa De Salud has grown exponentially since it was founded in 1998 by “community-based pioneers who understood that places across the Bronx were lacking in access to quality services,” says Gonzalez.
You can book an appointment with La Casa De Salud for vaccinations, an annual checkup or to see an internist, nutritionist, podiatrist, social worker, or even a dentist, on its staff. Most recently, the FQHC opened a brand new women and children’s center.
“What sets our organization apart, among other qualities, is our capacity,” says Lauren Mendenhall, La Casa De Salud’s executive director.” Unlike other FQHCs, where you might have to wait for weeks or even months for an appointment, we provide same-day access to our services.”
Notably, the clinic offers care to anyone, no matter their documentation status, and has multiple payment options available, whether or not you have health insurance. Alongside La Casa De Salud, Acacia offers a wider arrangement of services, like housing, job services and more.
“It’s a one-stop shop,” says Gonzales. “Anyone from infancy all the way through older adulthood can get served. The idea is to provide integrated, comprehensive services.”
Through its model, La Casa De Salud ensures that no matter their circumstances, patients get the holistic care they deserve.
“There is no debate that the US expends more than any nation in the world on healthcare, but ranks last in healthcare outcomes,” Rosa says. “We need to preserve and enhance the mission of the FQHC model to allow these marginalized communities and populations the intangible right to basic healthcare.”