Membership
Membership in Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved (KAMU) consists of organizations that are part of or support Kansas primary care safety net clinics. These include Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and FQHC Look-Alikes, state-funded primary care clinics, faith-based clinics, indigent clinics, local health departments providing primary care, and other nonprofit primary care clinics.
There are three classes of membership.
- Organizational Membership is available to nonprofit or public organizations that share the mission of KAMU and deliver the primary and preventive health care services to patients regardless of their ability to pay, either by legal mandate or explicitly adopted mission. Each Organizational Member has one vote at meetings of the general membership.
- Associate Membership is available to nonprofit or public organizations that deliver primary and preventive health care services that are not comprehensive in nature, regardless of the patient's ability to pay. Associate Members are non-voting members.
- Individual Membership is available to persons that support the mission of KAMU and do not meet the eligibility requirements for Organization or Associate Membership. Individual Members are non-voting members.
Services
Board Trainingincludes discussion on board purpose; board duties which include mission, policy, financial responsibilities, administrative roles and responsibilities, and CEO relationship; characteristics of a high performance board; successful boards/board evaluation; and leadership. The training will be customized to meet the needs of the individual clinic.
Community Developmentis aimed at growing, strengthening, and sustaining the primary health care safety net in Kansas by developing new centers and by helping existing centers expand into new communities. Assistance includes needs assessments and data analysis; education about community need; health center and clinic regulations and program requirements; and new start assistance.
Emergency Preparednessis an initiative that KAMU oversees to help clinics with the development of an emergency preparedness plan. KAMU provides training and technical assistance to develop a strong emergency preparedness response to effectively assist Kansas communities in times of need.
Integrationis a partnership of KAMU, the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, and Kansas Health Solutions. The Integration of Primary Care and Behavioral Health Care project includes nine Kansas safety net clinics, one primary care physician office, and 10 mental health centers. The goals of the project are to increase coordination of care for high risk individuals, co-manage chronic patients, improve health outcomes, decrease hospitalizations, and decrease costs.
Patient Centered Medical Homeis a model of care promoting improved access, patient - provider relations, and quality through clinic transformation. This model of care assists clinics to move to an outcomes focused approach to health care.
Quality Improvementis a focus on improved outcomes for the patients served within the Kansas safety net. This is accomplished by creating active quality improvement teams employing interventions to improve the overall healthcare experience for the patient.
Student/Resident Experience And Rotation in Community Health (SEARCH)is an opportunity for students and residents to experience medical, dental, and behavioral health clinical rotation in KAMU member clinics. The program, administered by KAMU, allows students and residents to work in underserved, high-need areas while improving their clinical skills and gaining knowledge from dedicated community health providers.
Technical Assistance (TA)is the provision of advice, assistance, and training to ensure the successful development, operation, and growth of our Kansas safety net clinics. Assistance includes fiscal and program management assistance; operational and administration support; program development analysis; and data and policy research and analysis.