Joining a National Campaign Celebrating America’s Health Centers’ Record of Success
[August 5, 2013] Valley-Wide Health Systems, Inc. is celebrating National Health Center Week 2013 (NHCW), a weeklong campaign (August 11-17) 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, Community Health Centers have been in existence for over 45 years and have compiled a significant record of success by:
- 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.
Health centers serve more than 22 million people nationwide, and are increasingly becoming the trusted provider of choice for many families, whether they are insured or not. Evidence shows patients choose health centers because they are convenient, affordable, and offer a range of services from a team of caring professionals. Studies also show the quality of care at a health center is as good or even better than private practices.
At Valley-Wide every day in our waiting rooms we witness the value of having a patient-centered healthcare home. When people have a place to go for regular care, they use it and stay healthier. We provide a wide range of services for all ages. We accept everyone, regardless of ability to pay, and we have eligibility specialists and care coordinators on-site to support our patients’ needs. 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.
For more information on Community Health Centers please visit the web site of the National Association of Community Health Centers at www.nachc.org.
