History

Cape Fear HealthNet (CFHN) is an outgrowth of the Health Care Access subcommittee of the Cape Fear Healthy Carolinian’s chapter that began meeting in 2005.  In 2008, CFHN formed a board of directors, incorporated and received its 501c3 designation.  CFHN’s Board of Directors includes members from a wide range of health and social service agencies, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, as well as practicing and retired medical providers. CFHN exists to create a coordinated system of health care for the poor and uninsured in Brunswick, New Hanover, Columbus and Pender counties, and to increase the capacity of health care safety net providers by ensuring that low-income residents have access to a medical home, receive preventive services, and avoid unnecessary health complications resulting in a better, healthier quality of life.

Goals

1. To expand the safety net to provide medical homes for primary care

2. To create a centralized system that standardizes eligibility, redistributes patients throughout the safety net based on acuity and capacity, and refers them for specialty care

3. To create a network of volunteer physicians for referrals from the safety net

4. To provide case management of patients with chronic disease, teaching them to manage their symptoms and avoid unnecessary medical care