By Elodie Dorso, CEO and President of Evara Health
Every August, we celebrate National Health Center Week, a time to recognize the invaluable role Community Health Centers (CHCs) play in our communities. Leading Evara Health for twenty-five years has shown me the profound impact our services have on the greater community.
Community Health Centers, including Evara, are on the front lines of national crises. From the pandemic and the opioid crisis to serving returning veterans and addressing the national mental health crisis, CHCs are always at the forefront, providing essential care and support during public health emergencies.
Evara Health serves over 60,000 patients annually, offering comprehensive services including family and internal medicine, maternal, pediatric, behavioral, primary and dental care across a wide geographical area. Despite an average cost of $250 per patient for Florida Community Health Centers, we are reimbursed only around $150. This disparity in costs and reimbursements threatens the long-term sustainability of many Community Health Centers, including Evara Health. Across the nation, and particularly in the Tampa Bay Area, we have witnessed the closure of primary care centers by larger organizations, leaving many patients without care. Evara Health, however, has remained steadfast in our commitment to the community for over 40 years, ensuring that patients continue to receive the care they need.
Working with our partners, including hospitals, we aim to keep our patients out of emergency rooms and reduce overall healthcare costs. The average emergency room visit costs around $1,389, a significant expense for both patients and the healthcare system. Our cost is less than 20% of that amount. By providing timely, quality care, we help manage chronic conditions and prevent hospitalizations, leading to better health outcomes and substantial cost savings.
Evara focuses on preventive care and health education for the underserved and uninsured, ensuring high standards of medical care. We also create an ecosystem of care, connecting patients facing challenges such as housing and food insecurity, transportation issues, and medication costs, to appropriate community resources. This holistic approach ensures that our patients receive comprehensive support, addressing both medical and social determinants of health.
Our success at Evara Health has been built on the resilience, dedication and courage of our staff. The Evara staff consistently rises to the occasion, going above and beyond to put patients first. Their unwavering commitment deserves daily celebration. From our medical professionals to our front-line support staff, each member plays a vital role in delivering comprehensive, compassionate care.
As we honor Community Health Centers this month, I am proud and humbled to lead Evara Health and our exceptional staff. Community Health Centers, including Evara, play a crucial role in the fabric of our society. We ensure that everyone, regardless of their financial or social situation, has access to high-quality healthcare. By focusing on primary and preventive care, health education and comprehensive support, we can address the root causes of health disparities and work tirelessly to improve overall community health.
This National Health Center Week, I urge our community to stand behind all CHCs and Evara Health. While others have left patients behind, Evara Health has been here for over 40 years, committed to our mission. Our work is vital in powering communities through caring connections.
As we look to the future, we remain committed to our mission, ever resilient and innovative, dedicated to improving the health and lives of those we serve, one patient, one family, one community at a time. The support of our community is essential in continuing this mission and ensuring that CHCs, like Evara Health, can continue to provide essential services to those in need. Join us in celebrating and supporting the invaluable work of CHCs. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of countless individuals and strengthen the health and well-being of our community.
Elodie Dorso is CEO and President of Evara Health (formerly Community Health Centers of Pinellas, Inc.), one of the largest FQHCs in the state of Florida and the nation, serving nearly 70,000 patients. In the over 20 years that Ms. Dorso has been with Evara Health, she has served as Evara Health’s Chief Executive Officer since February of 2018, prior to that she served as its Chief Operating Officer.
Ms. Dorso is active in numerous industry and community organizations. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for The Wellness Connection, ACRES, Health Choice Care, Florida Community Health Centers, Health Choice Network, and has recently been appointed chair of Health Choice Network Florida. She is a graduate of the University of South Florida and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Saint Leo University.
