Altura partnership expands access to innovative medical advances for historically underrepresented patients
Escondido, Calif. (July 12, 2021) – Neighborhood Healthcare, a regional Federally Qualified Health Center providing a wide range of medical, dental, and behavioral health services, announced today the launch of its research center in Escondido.
In partnership with Altura, a 20-year, health-related research and technology veteran with deep domain expertise in servicing FQHCs, the Neighborhood Healthcare Institute of Health will expand access to innovative medical advances to the non-profit’s patients.
“Community health is about more than just vaccines and checkups. It’s about giving people the resources they need to live their best lives,” said Jim Schultz, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Neighborhood Healthcare. “By launching our own research center, we can provide the ability for our patients to gain access to the state-of-the-art medical care they deserve, regardless of their situation or circumstance. Our involvement also ensures that our patient population is given the appropriate attention in future trials.”
Neighborhood Healthcare’s infrastructure enables the organization to launch this initiative and ensure full compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations. Patients involved in the non-profit’s studies will retain complete control over their participation through informed consent. These individuals will help increase the diversity of FQHC patients involved in medical studies in trusted, transparent environments. Doing so will boost the expediency and efficacy of new and existing medical device, pharmaceutical, and therapeutic treatments.
Altura will assist Neighborhood Healthcare by deploying its performance management services as well as its HCP Studies mobile platform, both of which include culturally competent and bilingual capabilities. The partnership will enable virtual and local clinical trials that connect patients, healthcare providers, and other healthcare stakeholders to accelerate clinical studies with diverse patient populations.
“Neighborhood Health’s vision and mission are aligned with the need of expanding research access to underserved populations through the people they trust,” said Pete Fronte, President & CEO of Altura. “We’re pleased to partner with another community-driven, patient-based organization that can help expand diversity in clinical research and health studies.”
Neighborhood Healthcare’s focus areas will include any acute or chronic outpatient medical condition, including diabetes, obesity, mental health, COVID, pediatrics, women’s health, respiratory, infections, and cardiovascular.
About Altura
For over 20 years, Altura has helped establish health research and patient outreach programs within medical practices of all types, including Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Altura facilitates virtual and local health-related studies and connects people, healthcare providers, health systems, life science companies, and other healthcare stakeholders to accelerate clinical studies with diverse patient populations. Altura enables local, regional, and national ecosystems through its virtual services and HCP Studies mobile technology (available in 24 countries). For more information, visit Altura Studies.
About Neighborhood Healthcare
Neighborhood Healthcare provides quality, compassionate, whole-person care to everyone, regardless of their circumstance, throughout San Diego and Riverside Counties. We go above and beyond in serving those in need with high integrity, professionalism, and in the spirit of collaboration, just as we did when founded more than 50 years ago. In doing so, we dedicate ourselves to improving community health so everyone can live happy and healthy lives.