Fiscal year 2025 expanded hours. - abstractintroduction: tampa family health centers (TFHC) is a leading federally qualified health center (FQHC) in florida, serving 113,418 patients annually

Established in 1984, TFHC operates multiple locations throughout hillsborough county, offering a comprehensive range of healthcare services. These services include primary care, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, dental care, behavioral health, pharmacy, and chronic disease management. TFHC plays a crucial role in providing high-quality healthcare to a diverse population, particularly low-income and uninsured individuals. The center's extensive network and commitment to accessibility underscore its dedication to meeting the healthcare needs of the community. Need: TFHC determines its hours of operation through a multifaceted approach, including patient surveys, internal data analysis, and community needs assessments. Patient surveys gather direct feedback on preferences and barriers to accessing care, while internal data evaluates provider productivity and staffing capacity. Community needs assessments consider broader socioeconomic factors and transportation infrastructure. High-demand areas, such as zctas 33612 and 33619, show significant healthcare service penetration, indicating a need for extended hours to accommodate more patients. High penetration rates among low-income populations in zctas 33605 and 33610 highlight the necessity for accessible healthcare during non-traditional hours. Proposed expansion: to address these needs, TFHC proposes expanding the north tampa health center's opening hours to start earlier in the morning, catering to patients needing care before work or school. Additionally, extending evening hours at the causeway and west hillsborough centers will provide flexibility for patients with daytime commitments. This expansion will improve healthcare access, particularly for underserved populations experiencing health disparities. Supporting data: data from TFHC's most recent needs assessment indicates that tampa residents, particularly children, face higher poverty rates compared to the rest of florida. The average travel time to work and reliance on personal vehicles further exacerbate access issues, highlighting the need for extended healthcare hours. Observations of early morning lines at north tampa and high schedule utilization rates at causeway and west hillsborough centers underscore the demand for expanded hours. The community health assessment by the florida department of health supports these findings, emphasizing the critical need for accessible healthcare services. Implementation plan: the expanded hours will include earlier opening times at north tampa and extended evening hours at causeway and west hillsborough centers. Additionally, saturday hours will be introduced. These changes will provide essential services such as family practice, pharmacy, and lab services during the new hours. This approach will address the logistical and socioeconomic barriers identified in the needs assessment, improving access to care and health outcomes. Impact and sustainability: the estimated increase in patient volume is based on current utilization patterns and the added hours. For instance, causeway is expected to serve an additional 4,030 patients annually, while north tampa and west hillsborough anticipate significant increases. TFHC will assess the effectiveness of the expanded hours through weekly and monthly reviews of provider productivity and patient feedback. This continuous assessment will guide adjustments to ensure the expanded hours meet community needs and improve healthcare access. Conclusion: expanding TFHC's hours of operation will significantly enhance healthcare access for the tampa community. By addressing identified needs through strategic adjustments in operating hours, TFHC aims to reduce health disparities, improve patient satisfaction, and ensure that residents receive the care they need at conve