More than a primary care provider, San Joaquin County is designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center Lookalike (FQHC-LAL) via the San Joaquin Health Centers (SJ Health) and is bringing health services to county residents through comprehensive health center sites in Stockton, French Camp, and Manteca as well as an expanding mobile outreach delivery system.

Operating in one of California’s most diverse and underserved regions, SJ Health serves over 30,000 unique patients annually through over 130,000 visits. With goals to increase access and health care delivery both within our health centers and in the community, SJ Health is committed to developing and deploying innovative programs and services, to expanding reach through partnerships, and to building simplicity for our patients.

History:

The County of San Joaquin has provided primary care services to low-income residents of San Joaquin County through San Joaquin General Hospital (SJGH) since 1857. In 2010, by direction of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors, “San Joaquin County Clinics” was established and assumed responsibility for providing primary care services as a department of the county hospital. San Joaquin County Clinics received formal designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike (FQHC-LAL)* by the U.S. Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) in July 2014.

To realize a HRSA-compliant governance model more fully, and to more fully leverage funding and revenue opportunities afforded by its non-profit corporate structure, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors designated the clinics as a County affiliate in January 2021. This formally established independence from San Joaquin General Hospital and allowed the clinics to be reintroduced to the community as San Joaquin Health Centers (SJ Health).

*As an FQHC-LAL, SJ Health operates and provides comprehensive, quality primary health care services, including behavioral health in accordance with HRSA’s Health Center Program compliance manual, but does not qualify to receive HRSA Health Center Program funding provided to FQHCs.

https://bphc.hrsa.gov/about-health-centers/what-health-center