News

The FUHN member clinics are all doing critical work across their communities to increase access to healthcare, improve patient experience, and reduce the cost of care. FUHN proudly shares the news of both our organization and of our member clinics.

Shared risk management expert guides FUHN clinics to improved processes

Four Federally Qualified Health Center Unified Network member clinics are benefiting from the expertise of Kristie Sams, MBA, CCMP, FMVA, LBBP, ESG, CBCP, their fractional director of risk management. For the past several months, Sams has been working closely with the clinics as an extension of their teams, reviewing clinical-related processes and identifying which ones need to be updated and/or assigned an owner to be responsible for their oversight. In partnership with Sam

Congratulating Dr. Joel Farley on the recognition of his contributions to pharmaceutical sciences

FUHN Health Informatics Consultant Joel Farley, PhD, FAPhA, FAMCP, is a pharmacist, pharmaceutical outcomes researcher, teacher, and mentor. For more than three years, he has provided valuable insight to the FUHN member clinics, facilitated a key relationship with the University of Minnesota’s Best Practices Integrated Informatics Core, included his doctoral students among the FUHN leadership team, and provided data and analysis to guide FUHN’s efforts in value-based care.

FUHN clinics leverage a shared risk management expert to strengthen clinical operations and patient care

Kristie Sams, MBA, CCMP, FMVA, LBBP, ESG, CBCP, may not have a clinical background, but she brings expertise in what she does best: helping organizations mitigate risk. A consultant with Creative Planning Business Services , she brings deep experience to the Federally Qualified Health Center Unified Health Network as a fractional director of risk management for four of FUHN’s member FQHCs. One of the many benefits of FUHN, a clinically integrated health network , is that memb

Leadership Evolution: Sarah Torres ascends to Riverland Community Health CEO as Dr. David Thorson Retires (again)

The Federally Qualified Health Center Unified Health Network (FUHN) has benefited from physicians who have postponed retirement to serve health centers and patients, from Dr. Dan Florey to Dr. David Thorson. For more than two years after retiring from practicing medicine, David Thorson, MD, served as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer of Riverland Community Health, formerly United Family Medicine. “Dr. Dave” practiced family medicine and sports medicine

FUHN Adds Expertise to Optimize Electronic Health Records across Member Clinics

Virginia Mason Institute's approach to continuous improvement Few people start their careers as computer programmers and become family practice physicians. But that is exactly the path Dr. Dan Florey, the Medical Information Lead at the Federally Qualified Health Center Unified Health Network (FUHN), pursued. In his role, he will guide FUHN member clinics in using technology to remove barriers and improve processes for providing patient care. Dan knew FUHN’s Executive Direct

The Power of Purpose and Courage: Dr. Dan Florey joins FUHN

Dr. Dan Florey proclaims he has a “weird brain;” it’s hard-wired for process. Dan spent 14 years as a computer programmer before entering...

Congratulations to FUHN Clinics Earning 2025 Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) Badges

Every year, the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) awards Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) badges to recognize...

New name reflects expansion of FUHN’s reach

In June 2025, FUHN changed the “U” in its acronym from “Urban” to “Unified” to better reflect the clinics that now comprise the network. ...

Reflections on “To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System,” 25 years later–and implications for today

When the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released its landmark report, To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System, in November 1999 ,...

FUHN launches value-based care arrangement with Wellvana for Medicare Shared Savings Program

The FUHN Clinically Integrated Network's (CIN) engagement with Wellvana , a value-based care enablement company that helps primary care...

Community Health Service, Inc. joins FUHN to help improve healthcare access, patient outcomes, and affordability

Community Health Service Inc. (CHSI) announced the community health center has joined the Federally Qualified Health Center Urban Health...

SDoH health screening may boost comprehensive medication management effectiveness; positive pilot results reflect a need for more in-depth research

Researchers found better-controlled diabetes and blood pressure in patients with social determinants of health (SDoH) barriers than...

Congratulations to FUHN Clinics Earning 2024 Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) Badges

Children are back to school sparking the season of artwork on the refrigerator and report cards. The grown-up equivalent for community...

FUHN Community Care Network and UCare Launch Value-based Care Agreement to Close Preventive Care Gaps

Preventive care from regular check-ups to recommended screenings and immunizations is critical to ensuring good health outcomes. While...

Opportunities to Improve Patient Care and Boost Efficiency Drive FUHN’s Creation of Clinically Integrated Network

January 4, 2024 - The Federally Qualified Urban Health Network (FUHN) starts 2024 as a newly formed “clinically integrated network” or...

Community Health Quality Recognition Badges Awarded to FUHN Member Clinics

Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) awards Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) badges to recognize federally...

Collaboration: Essential to our network of community-based clinics

In turn, our primary care clinics partner with specialty care centers like Gillette Children's to ensure patients get the care they need....

Open Door Health Center Joins Network of Community Clinics

Collaboration focuses on improving healthcare access, affordability, and patient outcomes Mankato, Minn., Sept. 13, 2023 — Open Door...