Denver health: A model for the integration of a public hospital and community health centers

Two major pillars of the United States' safety net system are urban public hospitals and community health centers. Their common mission is to care for the uninsured and other vulnerable populations. However, in most communities these important components of the safety net remain organizationally and functionally separate, which inhibits the continuum of care and creates substantial inefficiencies. Denver Health is a long-standing vertically and horizontally integrated system for vulnerable populations. The integration benefits the patient and the system and serves as a model for the U.S. safety net. This paper outlines the benefits of integration to the patient, provider, and health system, using data from the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, the Bureau of Primary Health Care, and Denver Health.