Accreditations & Affiliations

ESRH is a Patient-Centered Medical Home affiliated with organizations you trust.

Patient-Centered Medical Home
ESRH is a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH)—not simply as a place, but as a model of the organization of primary care that delivers the core functions of primary health care according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

What is a PCMH?
It means we are both a Patient-Centered and Primary Care Medical Home. We are responsible for meeting our patient’s physical and mental health care needs, including prevention and wellness for acute, and chronic care.

Why is this so important?
As a PCMH organization, we provide a promising approach to improving your primary care quality, reduce costs, and improve your experience with our health care professionals. We respect your values and preferences while providing education, access to care, and continuity of care.

What PCMH means for you?
A patient-centered medical home is a care approach that brings together an expert team focused on you. A medical home begins with your primary care clinic, where a team of professionals work together to provide you with a new, expanded type of care. Your expert team includes: a Provider, Nurse/Medical Assistant, Behavioral Health, a Case Manager/Referral Specialist, and a Pharmacist who supports you and your family or caregiver in managing your care.

We are here to serve you. We don’t just treat your chronic condition, but we manage it for better health outcomes.

a blue and white sign that says pcmh

Federally Qualified Health Center

The Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc. community health center system has Federally Qualified Health Center status. For more than 45 years, federal Health Services and Resources Administration-supported health centers have provided comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary health care services to medically underserved communities and vulnerable populations.

Health centers are community-based and patient-directed organizations that serve populations with limited access to health care.

Health Center Program Fundamentals

    • Located in or serves a high-need community (designated Medically Underserved Area or Population).
    • Governed by a community board composed of a majority (51% or more) of health center patients who represent the population served. More about health center governance
    • Provide comprehensive primary health care services as well as supportive services (education, translation and transportation, etc.) that promote access to health care.
    • Provide services available to all with fees adjusted based on ability to pay.
    • Meet other performance and accountability requirements regarding administrative, clinical, and financial operations.

We are a Grant-Supported Federally Qualified Health Center. These centers are public and private non-profit healthcare organizations that meet certain criteria under the Medicare and Medicaid Programs (respectively, Sections 1861(aa)(4) and 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act and receive funds under the Health Center Program (Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act).

FTCA

Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc. receives U.S. Department of Health and Human Services funding and has Federal Public Health Service deemed status with respect to certain health or health-related claims, including medical malpractice claims, for itself and its covered individuals.

Since its enactment in 1946, the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) has been the legal mechanism for compensating people who have suffered personal injury by the negligent or wrongful action of employees of the U.S. government. Under Section 224 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended by the Federally Supported Health Centers Assistance Act of 1992 and 1995, employees of eligible health centers may be deemed to be federal Employees qualified for protection under the FTCA.

Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc. is an eligible health center and must do an annual renewal deeming application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC). There is no cost to participating health centers or their providers, and they are not liable for any settlements or judgments that are made. The federal government assumes responsibility for these costs. The health center, their employees and eligible contractors are considered federal employees immune from suit for medical malpractice claims while acting within the scope of their employment. Once deemed, Health Center Program grantees are immune from medical malpractice lawsuits resulting from the performance of medical, surgical, dental, or related functions within the approved scope of the project.

A patient who alleges acts of medical malpractice by a deemed health center cannot sue the center or the provider directly, but must file the claim against the United States.

the logo for the fshica - a - deemed health center

USDA

Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc. has received a loan from the USDA. The statement below contains important information about the USDA.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. The full non-discrimination statement can be found at this link.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

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HIPAA

We are committed to protecting your privacy. We comply with all pertinent Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) regulations and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) regulations. Read more here: HIPAA NPP 2013-12-19 We may collect personally identifiable information when you visit our site. We also automatically receive and record information on our server logs from your browser including your IP address, cookie information and the page(s) you visited.

Your payment and personal information is always safe. Our Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software is a PCI data security standard and among the best software available today for secure commerce transactions. It encrypts all of your personal information, including credit card number, name and address, so that it cannot be read over the internet.

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National Health Service Corps

We employ National Health Service Corps participants. The NHSC offers financial and other support to primary care providers and sites in underserved communities to include loan repayment and scholarships to help with the cost of the participating providers’ education. https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/

No one will be denied access to services at Eastern Shore Rural Health due to inability to pay. A discounted sliding fee schedule is available. See Help with Medical and Dental Bills.

the hrsa national health service corp logo

ESRHS Named Health Center Quality Leader by HRSA

We were awarded Health Center Quality Leader, Advancing Health Information Technology, and Patient-Centered Medical Home badges by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) in 2023. The Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) badges recognize Health Center Program awardees that have made notable quality improvement achievements in the areas of access, quality, health equity, and health information technology for the most recent UDS reporting period.

We have achieved Silver status in the Advocacy Center of Excellence (ACE) Program! The ACE program recognizes and rewards Community Health Centers that demonstrate excellence in formalizing their advocacy program to make it an institutional part of health center operations. As a Silver ACE, our health center serves as an example to other organizations striving to achieve advocacy excellence. Our commitment also strengthens the Health Center Advocacy Network as a whole by enabling greater effectiveness of advocacy efforts on a national scale.