NorthShore Health Centers is marking National Health Center Week 2014 (NHCW) with FREE Health Screenings and Health & Fitness Education Classes all week along with a Patient Appreciation Health & Fun Fair on August 14th, as part of a week-long celebration (August 10-16) to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s Health Centers as local solutions for affordable and accessible health care.
One of the bright spots in America’s health care system, NHCW has traditionally drawn praise from bipartisan Members of Congress, as well as the White House. The Community Health Center safety net serves over 22 million people across the country and has been successful in:
Reducing income and ethnic health disparities nationwide, even in the poorest and most challenged communities Producing $24 billion in annual health system savings Reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and unnecessary visits to the ER Generating a system of preventive medicine that patients use regularly to stay healthy, thus saving lives.
The theme for NHCW 2014 is “Celebrating America’s Health Centers: Local Engines for Healthier Communities,” which emphasizes how health centers deliver quality care while serving as critical economic engines helping to power local economies. As community owned and operated businesses, health centers employ hundreds of thousands of individuals at approximately 9,000 delivery sites across the nation. In addition to primary care services, health centers provide a comprehensive range of enabling services that promote access to care, well-being, and economic and workforce development in the community, such as casework, transportation, daycare and housing assistance.
“Health centers are a proven model that has delivered multiple returns on the federal investment for the past 50 years,” said Jan Wilson, CEO of NorthShore Health Centers. “We provide a patient centered medical home for and operated by the community that addresses the local needs fostering a healthier community. We see everyone. Whether you are uninsured, underinsured or have insurance, our patients not only get the care they need under one roof, but they are treated as individuals, with dignity and respect. This is what health care should be, and what we celebrate during National Health Center Week.”
To learn more about the mission and accomplishments of Community Health Centers please visit the web site of the National Association of Community Health Centers at www.nachc.org.
To find out more about the events provided by NorthShore Health Centers call 219-763-8112 or visit our website at www.northshorehealth.org.
