Jose Cucalon Calderon, Bayo Curry-Winchell, Diaz Dixon, Nathan Dupree, Norris DuPree, Adrienne Feemster, Nicole Lamboley, Daniel Spogen, Jessica Vann, Travis Walker, Nicole Willis-Grimes, Alex Woodley, Mike Wurm and Kim Youn
One of the enduring lessons from the pandemic is that people of color typically suffer worse health outcomes than their counterparts. For instance, people of color were much more likely to end up hospitalized or even die from COVID-19 compared to others. And while the pandemic may have put a spotlight on health inequities, they have long existed. For decades, Black and Latino Americans have faced alarmingly higher rates of age-adjusted cancer deaths, maternal mortality and asthma deaths. While there are many factors that contribute to health inequity, one factor that cannot be overlooked is that people of color typically do not enjoy the same level of access to health care as other Americans.
In the wake of the pandemic, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). One of the major goals of ARPA is to address health inequities by providing more access to health care in underserved communities. ARPA does this by funneling money to states and local governments, who, in turn, select projects that are supposed to meet ARPA’s goals. While some local governments have been criticized for the types of projects they have supported with ARPA funds, the City of Reno should be commended for its decision to allocate $5 million of these funds to expand Community Health Alliance’s Nell J. Redfield Health Center on Neil Road.
The Community Health Alliance Nell J. Redfield Health Center on Neil Road is an example of an innovative partnership between a government entity and a local nonprofit. The City of Reno owns the building where the health center is located, and Community Health Alliance operates the health center that provides primary medical care to nearly 4,000 patients in the area, the majority of which are people of color. This partnership has existed for more than 20 years and ensures that one of Reno’s lowest socioeconomic neighborhoods receives quality primary medical care, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.
While Reno and the Neil Road neighborhood have grown significantly over the last 20 years, the health center has not been able to keep up. It has long been running at full capacity, meaning that as demand continues to increase, it takes longer and longer for patients to get in to be seen. Additionally, Community Health Alliance has been able to add services at other locations, such as behavioral health, but is not able to do so at Neil Road due to a lack of space.
The City of Reno’s $5 million investment into its own building will allow Community Health Alliance to add additional medical providers, as well as begin offering behavioral health services, a food pantry and a pharmacy. The additional exam rooms will mean that Community Health Alliance will be able to add new providers, shortening the wait times for patients to get an appointment. The new service lines will also have a positive impact on health outcomes in the neighborhood.
This project is an inspiring initiative that sets the Reno City Council apart in its commitment to improving the well-being of people of color in our community. While many elected officials often pay homage to people of color during Black History Month or Hispanic Heritage Month, the Reno City Council has taken concrete action that will have a lasting impact for people of color in Northern Nevada.
The following community leaders support this column:
- Jose Cucalon Calderon, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
- Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD, Saint Mary’s Urgent Care medical director and physician, and member of Community Health Alliance’s Board of Directors
- Diaz Dixon, owner of PD Consulting
- Nathan Dupree, lead pastor at Living Stones Church in North Valleys and member of Community Health Alliance’s Board of Directors
- Norris DuPree, PhD, MFT, LADAC, teaching assistant professor of counselor education at the University of Nevada, Reno
- Adrienne Feemster, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) third vice chair
- Nicole Lamboley, president and chief executive officer at the Food Bank of Northern Nevada
- Daniel Spogen, MD, chair at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and member of Community Health Alliance’s Board of Directors
- Jessica Vann, president at Northern Nevada Black Cultural Awareness Society
- Travis Walker, MD, MPH, FAAFP, chief medical officer at Community Health Alliance
- Nicole Willis-Grimes, executive director at Communities in Schools Western Nevada
- Alex Woodley, trustee of the Washoe County School District Board
- Mike Wurm, president and chief executive officer at the Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows
- Kim Young, executive director at The Children’s Cabinet
