The Health Care Coalition serves to improve availability and accessibility to quality health care in Frederick County.

Background
A grant received by the Frederick County Health Department through the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene made it possible to convene representatives from across the community who are impacted by and committed to acting on health access issues. 

Over 100 diverse stakeholders attended the Frederick Health Summit on May 12, 2006 in order to examine and prioritize barriers to health care and to convert these barriers into goals and action plans.

A summary of these proceedings was created and participants were invited to join a coalition in order to continue the collaborative process.

The first Health Care Coalition reviewed the prioritized goals from the Summit and formed workgroups to target each area of concern.

Membership
Membership is open to charitable and religious groups, business and corporate entities, state and local government organizations, health care providers, private and non-profit organizations, coalitions and citizen groups, and individuals.

Executive Committee
Coordinates workgroup activities, plans and schedules coalition meetings, and serves as the focal point for all coalition and workgroup communications. 

Workgroups
The coalition is comprised of three workgroups, each focusing on a distinct area pertaining to health care. A fourth ad hoc workgroup is charged with overseeing future updates to the community health needs assessment:

Frederick County Health Access Program (FCHAP)

Frederick County Health Care Coalition Fund