UC Merced Study: Power Dynamics and Rushed Encounters Destroy Patient Trust in San Joaquin Valley Health Centers

A UC Merced Center for Health Equity study across 3 Central Valley health centers (8 counties) with 33 health professionals, 39 CHWs, and 403 patient surveys found that power dynamics and rushed clinical encounters destroy patient trust — while culturally respectful, language-concordant care builds it. As FQHCs face staffing cuts from H.R. 1, the risk is that remaining staff will have even less time per patient, accelerating the trust gap. Primary-source evidence that CHW investment is a revenue strategy, not just a cost.