Professor Ellamae Branstetter, PhD, RN, established the clinic in 1977 to facilitate the clinical training of advanced practice nurses and to fill a health service need in the community. A nationally recognized pioneer in the movement to promote advanced practice nursing, Community Health Services Clinic is generally accepted to be the oldest, continuously operating nurse-managed center in the United States.
Initially housed in a social services center owned by the City of Scottsdale, CHS staff saw clients and trained students in the shared space for nearly eleven years. In 1988, CHS relocated to a nearby retail shopping plaza and began “stand alone” operations. This strategic move offered increased visibility for the Clinic and easy access for the general public.
Utilizing a client-centered model of healthcare, CHS Clinic has demonstrated that nurses can deliver cost-effective preventive and primary healthcare services to the community as a whole, thereby improving access to care.
The past and present ASU Presidents and Deans of the College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation have been strong supporters of CHS clinic and its mission. The College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation continues to provide partial financial support of the Clinic operations. The result of this commitment: Hundreds of students in undergraduate and graduate programs at ASU, including nursing and other disciplines, have received valuable training through CHS Clinic.
CHS is proud of its three decades of service to the general public and the academic community.
