Advancing Imaging Equity in Community Health Centers

Raymond K. Tu, MD, MS, FACR, FASSR, American College of Radiology^® (ACR^®) Member Representative to the Radiology Health Equity Coalition (RHEC), contributed this piece.

A recent American Medical Association news article highlighted the role of the RHEC in the innovative care model at Mary’s Center in Washington, DC, a large multijurisdictional,  multicultural Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that pairs patient care with education and social services. 

Mary’s Center is respected for innovative and partnership programs. While chief medical officer of a DC Medicaid health plan, I led a program that linked primary care and dental care for Medicaid Enrollees. This approach is meaningful for patients who must take unpaid time off work and need care to be efficient and coordinated. Patients who scheduled one visit could receive the other at the same time, resulting in a 20% increase in use of both services. 

The RHEC is advancing care for patients at FQHCs — such as Mary’s Center — by supporting access to cancer screenings through a "warm handoff" model, educating patients about imaging, screening and various image-guided treatment options, and utilizing data-driven insights to identify and close care delivery gaps in underserved populations.

Beyond its convening work, the RHEC promotes a broader agenda focused on translating equity into measurable practice and impact. This includes developing data-driven strategies to identify and reduce disparities in imaging access and outcomes, fostering cross-sector partnerships to address social drivers of health, supporting research and pilot programs that test innovative care delivery models, and promoting workforce diversity and culturally responsive care within radiology. We are also working to elevate best practices, influence policy and equip health systems with practical tools to embed equity into everyday clinical operations.

More than 50 million people in the U.S. rely on community health centers for care. These centers offer primary, dental and behavioral healthcare and more. They also help patients overcome barriers like language, transportation and insurance. Recently, the Medical Society of the District of Columbia, where I serve I as board chair, awarded Mary’s Center an innovation grant to facilitate remote patient monitoring to enhance care and access, particularly for Spanish speaking patients.  

The RHEC is driving practical solutions linking services, using data, expanding screening access, and making care easier to get. We are currently exploring partnerships between Mary’s Center, the District of Columbia Primary Care Association, and Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center/GW Health (Universal Health Services), where I am chief of radiology. Our goal: close gaps, provide for follow-up care and connect patients across the system. We hope this effort can provide lessons and data that can be used to replicate our successes at other FQHC sites across the country. 

But challenges remain. Medicaid changes could disrupt coverage for many patients. The coalition is closely monitoring these developments and will continue working with the RHEC and community partners to advocate for solutions. We have already supported efforts to restore transportation and dental benefits for Medicaid enrollees.

I encourage radiology professionals to visit radhealthequity.org to find out more about RHEC activities on behalf of our patients and communities. 

I also invite you to contact Carla Brathwaite, ACR Senior Manager of Health Disparities, Outreach and Population Health, to explore ways that you and your practice or health system can get involved.

Together, we can do great things.