Community Medical Centers has announced a partnership with Family HealthCare Network to expand services for Medi-Cal patients.

The partnership will allow Visalia-based Family HealthCare Network (FHCN) —the nation’s 7th-largest federally qualified health center — to operate existing clinics at Community Regional Medical Center’s (CRMC) Downtown Fresno campus at the Deran Koligian Ambulatory Care Center. The center has about 125,000 annual patient visits and provides outpatient services in pediatrics, women’s health, special services (HIV/AIDS), surgical devices, dental, eye, family and internal medicine, as well as a walk-in clinic.

“This partnership is great for our region because we’re committed to increasing access to primary and specialty health care services for underserved populations,” said Craig Wagoner, Community Regional Medical Center’s CEO. “We’re building on both organizations’ strengths to better meet the growing demand for health care services in Fresno County.”

A primary goal of the partnership is to improve timeliness of care and reduce the number of patients who receive outpatient-level care in emergency department settings, according to a news release.

FHCN will contract with the same group of physicians Community contracts with to provide care to patients seen in the Deran Koligian Ambulatory Care Center. Additionally, FCHN will work with UCSF Fresno Medical Education Program to continue training residents and fellows in the clinics.

“We look forward to the opportunity to partner with like-minded individuals to provide continued care to the underserved communities in Fresno. The ability to work together to expand affordable and accessible health care is tremendous,” said Kerry Hydash, president and CEO for Family HealthCare Network. “I have seen the impact of Family HealthCare Network and CRMC’s services and programs in the communities served by both organizations, and our goal is to collectively have an even greater positive impact.”

FHCN could begin operating the clinics as soon as summer of 2018.

FHCN operates 23 locations, of which 19 are community health centers in Tulare and Kings County. The network has 700,000 annual patient visits., about 1,100 employees and 220 licensed professional staff.