The city of Portland recently announced a proposed budget initiative that includes closing the city-funded India Street Public Health Clinic and reallocating city resources to support other essential public health functions, while moving many direct clinical services to Portland Community Health Center, an existing nonprofit funded by the federal government. This would happen in two phases: A portion of India Street’s patients and services would move by Jan. 1, 2017, with all others to follow by June 30, 2017.

The services at India Street have a long and well-loved history among patients, staff and the community. To ensure that current India Street patients continue to receive the comprehensive health care they need, city officials asked Portland Community Health Center to work with them to develop a comprehensive plan for the seamless integration of patients and systems into our care.

This transition plan will provide patients with continued access to the services they need at a practice that is nationally recognized as meeting standards for team-based, patient-centered medical homes.

Portland Community Health Center has appeared in the news quite frequently lately, and there have been some inaccuracies concerning our history, programs and services. I would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight about who we are as an organization, and whom we serve.

Portland Community Health Center is a community nonprofit that provides comprehensive primary care services to 6,646 patients who represent Portland’s diverse population with the full spectrum of ages and medical needs. Our mission is to provide a safe and welcoming health care environment for anyone in need, regardless of ability to pay. As a federally qualified health center, we receive a comprehensive reimbursement rate for programs and services, so patients are charged on a sliding-scale fee based on income and insurance, or lack thereof.

At our five locations in Portland and South Portland, our services include not only primary medical care for every age and gender, but also mental health counseling, treatment for substance abuse, preventive dental care, and management of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, HIV/AIDS, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension and heart disease.

We support patients with health and wellness education and coaching, assistance obtaining health insurance coverage, case management and coordination of care.

We abide by rigorous quality practice standards and demonstrate a systematic, organization-wide commitment to uncompromising service to patients through our quality assurance and quality improvement program. As part of this program, we track key clinical outcomes, using performance data to help us manage the health of everyone in our care. We also conduct quarterly patient satisfaction surveys, on which we scored in the 96th percentile in January.

We understand that changing health care providers is a sensitive issue, particularly when dealing with a life-threatening illness or managing a chronic condition, and we empathize with the concerns of India Street patients, staff and community members about this proposed change.

We also recognize community concerns regarding the transfer of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Because this program funds primary medical care and critical support services to uninsured or underinsured HIV patients in the United States, it is essential for many of the current patients who receive treatment at India Street. While we currently provide primary care to HIV patients, we are looking to further integrate HIV specialty care and treatment into our practice in a thoughtful way that strengthens services to people living with HIV.

We understand that some India Street patients may feel concerned about what will happen to them if the city decides to close the clinic. If the city decides to make this transition, we want to assure the community that we will willingly expand our services to accommodate all patients and provide continuity of care.

It is important to remember that the proposed transition time provides ample opportunity to create a thorough, thoughtful plan that puts the safety and care of patients at the forefront. We are dealing with people’s lives, and are therefore responsible for the well-being of all patients. Our top priority is to make sure no one will fall through the cracks.

Portland Community Health Center is standing by to be of service in whatever way we can. Most important, we are committed to continuing to offer excellent care and a positive, safe environment for all.