Evidence for the CHC model
A rapid synthesis study performed by McMaster University in 2020 identifies the features and impacts of CHCs, and it found "consistent evidence among the documents identified when describing costs and cost-effectiveness in relation to CHCs. One single study and a report on the use of CHCs among Medicare beneficiaries in the U.S. detailed lower costs of care and higher reported savings for CHCs when compared to other care settings...CHC clients typically have lower spending costs in a variety of healthcare settings, including primary care, ambulatory care, inpatient care, and emergency departments."
Researchers also found that in CHCs, "care providers shared a common value of activism and advocacy, and a vision of health equity encourages collaboration." They also found that CHCs "enhanced patient experiences and increased satisfaction in the delivery of care, especially when there was a positive relationship between patients/clients and providers. CHCs helped address health-equity issues among underserved populations (e.g., LGBTQ+, Indigenous peoples, new immigrants, youth, and individuals with severe mental illness or physical conditions), and increased engagement with screening programs, cardiovascular-disease prevention, and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes."