About three years ago, Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD) identified a gap in access to urgent and cardiac care in the East County region of San Diego. Residents in this large, traditionally underserved area often had to travel long distances for help with mild to moderate chest pain or immediate medical needs.
With support from Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, Family Health Centers opened the El Cajon Urgent and Cardiac Care Center in July 2023. The new center has expanded essential cardiac and urgent care services, while easing demand on the area’s nearby emergency departments.
Since opening, the El Cajon Urgent and Cardiac Care Center has made the following impact:
- 24,713 cardiac care visits; 7,174 unique patients
- 48,285 urgent care services; 23,756 unique patients
- 95,206 primary care visits; 21,956 unique patients (including pediatrics)
- 4,007 unique Blue Shield members served in 11,025 visits (including Blue Shield Promise)
“Before the center opened, too many people had to travel a long way to get this kind of care, and you can see from the response just how great the need was,” said Fran Butler-Cohen, CEO of Family Health Centers of San Diego. “For more than two years we’ve been able to exceed our own expectations for the center. Thanks to Blue Shield Promise, the people we serve have access to this level of care a lot closer to home, and they are definitely benefiting.”
Family Health Centers is San Diego County’s largest health center system serving low-income residents in East County — an area of nearly 500,000 people, which in addition to urban cities like El Cajon, includes smaller and rural communities.
Local help for families
San Diego resident Sophia Easter has visited the center several times with her teenage son. She’s appreciated the wide range of services, extended evening hours and Saturday availability — just two blocks from her home. The nearest hospital, by contrast, is nearly 10 miles away.
When her son, an athlete, suffered persistent knee pain after a football injury, the clinic proved essential. What seemed like a minor sprain turned out to be a dislocated knee — a serious issue they didn’t want to rely on an ER visit to diagnose.
“He ended up having a dislocated knee, and I never would have known if I had not taken him to the center,” said Easter. “We got the treatment he needed and a referral to physical therapy. It truly was a great experience for both of us.”
Urgent and primary care, closer to home
For families seeking immediate but non-emergency care, including pediatric services, the center has become a much-needed alternative to crowded emergency rooms. By redirecting non-emergency cases, hospitals can focus their limited resources and help reduce overall healthcare costs. The El Cajon center also strengthens Family Health Centers of San Diego’s extensive service network, which includes primary and pediatric care, women’s health, radiology, vision, dental and mental health services.
Blue Shield Promise’s grant supported both the El Cajon center’s opening and the purchase of state-of-the-art imaging and mammography equipment — allowing residents to access specialized diagnostics closer to home.
“Working with Family Health Centers of San Diego to bring this center to life reflects Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan’s deep commitment to expanding access to quality care and strengthening the health of every community we serve,” said Kristen Cerf, president and CEO of Blue Shield Promise. “Seeing this San Diego County community embrace the center — and knowing it is changing lives — underscores exactly why this work matters.”
For information about El Cajon Cardiac and Urgent Care Center, click here. To learn more about Blue Shield Promise, click here.
