Neighborhood Health CEO Shares Impact of New Partnership with Arlington Pediatric Center

Earlier this year, Arlington Pediatric Center kicked off a new partnership with Neighborhood Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that provides primary care to more than 40,000 low-income patients at 14 clinics across Northern Virginia. As Neighborhood Health continues its mission to enhance health care access in the community, this partnership marks a pivotal moment in expanding services and support for families in Northern Virginia.

To explore this transition and implications for the community, we spoke with Neighborhood Health CEO and primary care physician Basim Khan, MD, MPA, who has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s growth since stepping into the lead role in 2015. Dr. Khan shared insights on the merging of these two vital health organizations and the vision for the future of care in Northern Virginia.

The conversation was edited and condensed for clarity. 

NVHF: Earlier this year, Arlington Pediatric Center transferred its operations over to Neighborhood Health. Can you tell us about the transition and what prompted it? 

It’s an exciting time for both of our organizations. Arlington Pediatric Center (APC), operated by VHC Health, has been a pillar of the Arlington safety net for years. It was in need of a non-profit partner that could help it serve more patients and provide additional services for its patients.

We’ve been familiar with the wonderful work that APC has been doing for decades, serving children from low-income communities in Arlington—and we knew that it aligned with our own efforts. So on January 31, 2024, APC’s operations were transferred from Virginia Hospital Center to Neighborhood Health. Transferring their operations allowed Neighborhood Health to take over the administration and operation of the outpatient clinic, while APC doctors and medical staff would continue to provide treatment.

With this transition, we see the opportunity to take a program that is already offering fantastic pediatric care to children in our community and allow it to offer more comprehensive services to those young patients and reach more of those in need. Arlington Pediatric Center is also now connected with other partners in our network, enhancing its operations even further. 

NVHF: What goes into making a significant decision like this? 

Quite a bit, actually, because so many things have to line up. First, there needs to be alignment in mission and what we are trying to achieve. Both organizations should have the ability to work together well. Of course, funding and resources have to be available to make the partnership sustainable. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. 

Thankfully, all of those things aligned and that allowed us to just focus on the most important part: our patients. We’re all about improving health and promoting equity in Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax County by providing high quality health care to children and adults regardless of their ability to pay. In addition to primary care, we also offer services for dental, mental health, pharmacy needs, HIV care and vision. 

A big chunk of our patients—almost all of them—make less than 200% of the federal poverty level, and 90% are people of color. About half of our patients don’t have any health insurance, and the half that are insured are primarily on Medicaid. Additionally, 70% of our patients are most comfortable in a language other than English. 

Throughout our growth, we’ve remained focused on serving patients with low incomes and ensuring they have the right to the quality and affordable health care that every person deserves. 

NVHF: How has the transition impacted Arlington Pediatric Center’s work?

First of all, the staff have been incredible. They are deeply committed to the patients and families served in the clinic, and none of this work through the transition would have been possible without them. 

APC has continued to carry out its services at the same location and to the same patients. Since transitioning into Neighborhood Health’s network, the clinic was also able to hire additional staff, increasing its pediatric clinicians from five members to six and allowing the clinic to see more patients. 

Additionally, it has begun to offer dental and vision care to its patients, and we are working on hiring a behavioral health clinician for APC and making our pharmacy program available to the patient population. In the first six months at Neighborhood Health, the clinic has seen 3,102 patients through 6,676 visits. This includes 387 new patients who were not seen at APC before. 

NVHF: What has this shift meant for the community?

Already, we’ve witnessed the impact our services have had on patients of all ages. Here are just a few stories that highlight the difference we’re making. 

We had a teenager come in for a routine check-up with a pediatrician. During the visit, we screened for depression, and the results were concerning. This opened up an important conversation about recent self-harm. Thanks to the resources we now have, we were able to get this patient an appointment with a Neighborhood Health behavioral health specialist the very next day. It was a crucial step in getting them the help they needed.

Another case that stands out involved a five-year-old girl who had never received dental care. She ended up in the ER with severe cavities and gingivitis and was referred to Arlington Pediatric Center. The day after, a Neighborhood Health dentist was able to see her and start treatment. We’re talking about a little girl in serious pain, and we were able to get her the care she needed right away.

And then, there’s our work in family planning and prenatal care. We’ve been able to provide quick access to these resources, especially for teenagers. It’s vital to ensure they get the support they need during such an important time in their lives.

NVHF: Neighborhood Health is celebrating over 25 years of providing health care to communities in Northern Virginia. What’s your vision for Neighborhood Health’s impact over the next 25 years?

We’ve made significant progress in expanding health care access in Northern Virginia for the most underserved patients. But more work is needed, particularly in access to dental care, mental health and other areas. And there’s still a lot of work to be done in bringing health care costs down for everyone. Everyone—regardless of their income, health insurance status or background—should have access to comprehensive, affordable health care. 

I dream of a community where that right is a reality for all. We’re on the path to making that happen, and I’m excited about what the next 25 years will bring!

The Northern Virginia Health Foundation congratulates the Arlington Pediatric Center and Neighborhood Health on this new partnership. To continue to follow their efforts, subscribe to Neighborhood Health’s newsletter and find them on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube and Instagram.