KAMU's Mission

Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved supports and strengthens its member organizations through advocacy, education, and communication.

 

 

Who We Are

Founded in 1989 and incorporated as a 501(C)(3) nonprofit corporation in 1990, the Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved (KAMU) became recognized nationally as the Primary Care Association (PCA) of Kansas in 1991. KAMU represents a diverse group of organizations and membership includes public and private nonprofit primary care clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), local health departments, rural health clinics, and private individuals who have a keen interest in service for Kansas' underserved populations. As the PCA, KAMU is charged with providing training, technical assistance, and advocacy on behalf of federally funded FQHCs.

 

 

What We Do

The Assocation 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 as targeted assistance to new clinics and organizations with leadership or other significant changes.
  • Surveillance. KAMU 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. KAMU 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 profession schools to promote the placement of student interns in safety net clinics.
  • Liaison/Collaboration/Partnering. KAMU works 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. KAMU works with private and public stakeholders to increase resources for operations and/or capital improvements to improve Kansans' access to quality primary health care services.