As Connecticut struggles with a shortage of physicians, community health centers are filling the gap.

More than 400,000 state residents, many underinsured, access primary, dental and behavioral care at hundreds of locations statewide.

Michael Taylor, CEO of Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center in New Haven, said his staff care about the community and their patients, who receive services from four times a year to four times a week.

"We nurture very close working relationships with our patients," Taylor emphasized. "They know us and trust us and we know them quite well."

Taylor stressed federal and state funding is critical to maintaining enough staff to help a growing patient population. More than 32 million people receive care at community health centers nationwide, an increase of nearly 1 million patients from just a year ago.

Providers said they offer a one-stop shop for health care services, including mental health counseling, pediatric care and access to affordable, often live-saving medications. They also help patients with eligibility requirements for SNAP or Medicaid benefits and even arrange for transportation.

Kyu Rhee, CEO of the National Association of Community Health Centers, said providers consider important social factors affecting their patients' well-being.

"Like housing, like education, like access to healthy choices, like transportation, translation services," Rhee outlined. "And a holistic view of health that really thinks beyond what only happens in the exam room."

Rhee added providers are celebrating National Health Center Week with more than 700 events nationwide to highlight their accomplishments in saving both lives and billions in health care costs. In Connecticut, events will honor staff working in mobile medical vans, food bank distribution and with the homeless.

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