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KAMU's Mission
To promote access to high quality, culturally sensitive, comprehensive, and cost-effective primary health care services for the medically underserved in the state, regardless of an individual's ability to pay.
Who We Are
Founded in 1989 and incorporated as a 501(C)(3) non-profit corporation in 1990, the Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved (KAMU) became recognized nationally as the state Primary Care Association (PCA) in 1991. As the state PCA, KAMU is charged with providing training, technical assistance to and advocacy on behalf of federally funded Community Health Centers in Kansas.
KAMU's membership, however, goes beyond Federally Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHCs) to include other public and private non-profit organizations that deliver primary health care services regardless of an individual's ability to pay. Members range from faith-based clinics to county health departments, all founded with a spirit of community and with a belief that all people deserve access to quality health care. Forty-one organizations are members of KAMU.
Membership is open to all public and private non-profit organizations that meet KAMU's membership criteria.
What We Do
The Association accomplishes its mission through a wide range of programs and activities that can be grouped into seven core functions:
Maintaining and Strengthening the State's Safety Net Primary Care Clinics. KAMU provides training and technical assistance to health centers and primary care safety net clinics, as well targeted assistance to new clinics and organizations with leadership or other significant changes.
Surveillance. The PCA monitors state regulatory, administrative and legislative activities that affect the need for and availability of primary care services for the underserved. Facilitating activities to positively influence and impact outcomes that affect the underserved.
Growth Assistance. KAMU assists existing organizations and communities to expand primary health care services for underserved populations consistent with their need.
Workforce. The association helps member organizations with the development of recruitment and retention plans, partners with National Health Service Corps and State Loan Repayment offices, and works with academic medical, dental and other health professions schools to promote the placement of student interns in safety net clinics.
Liaison/Collaboration/Partnering. We work collaboratively with local, state and federal officials and organizations involved in health policy.
Clinical Quality. KAMU provides technical assistance to health centers and primary care safety net clinics on care management and clinical quality activities and programs, as well as emergency preparedness planning.
Leveraging and Enhancing Revenues. Ww work with private and public stakeholders to increase resources for operations and/or capital improvements to improve Kansans' access to quality primary health care services.
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