1. Location: Educational facilities that are located in areas where marginalized and low-income communities are located can be used as healthcare centers after regular school hours. The facility can be designed to function as both a school and a healthcare center. The location of the facility should be easily accessible through public transportation or within walking distance.
2. Design for flexibility: The facility should be flexible and adaptable to changing needs. It should be designed to accommodate a variety of healthcare services, such as health screenings, chronic disease management, wellness coaching, and behavioral health services.
3. Collaborative Design: Collaboration between health care providers and educators in designing educational facilities is crucial. Health care providers may better understand the healthcare needs of low-income communities while educators may establish trust with parents and members of the community. This means creating spaces where healthcare providers and educators can work together, share resources, and coordinate services to achieve their shared goals.
4. Provision of telehealth services: Telehealth services can be integrated into educational facilities to support healthcare access. With telehealth, healthcare providers can consult and provide healthcare checks virtually. Students, teachers and their families could access health services regardless of location.
5. Provide resources: Providing resources to community partners who work with low-income families can also be of value. Educational facilities that offer affordable and high-quality healthcare services should work with local organizations to provide resources, such as referrals, counseling and patient education.
6. Cross-sectoral partnerships: Partnerships with hospitals, community health centers and local nonprofits can expedite quality health care access for low-income communities. Managing partnerships allows these entities to share resources and, ultimately, extend better healthcare services to marginalized communities.
7. Transparency: Ensure transparency of healthcare services, healthcare costs and health outcomes to communities in need. This step helps to establish trust between the healthcare providers and the community ultimately leading to better health outcomes.
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