Celebrating National Health Center Week 2015

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Aug. 10, 2015 - PRLog -- The Ohio Association of Community Health Centers is marking National Health Center Week 2015 (NHCW) as part of a weeklong campaign (August 9-15) to raise awareness about the mission, value, and accomplishments of America’s Health Centers. The national celebration comes on the heels of new data that shows health centers now serve over 24 million people (or one in 14 Americans) as the largest and most successful system of primary healthcare.

One of the bright spots in America’s healthcare system, health centers started 50 years ago as a pilot project during President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty. Today with broad bipartisan support, they have compiled a significant record of success that includes:

• Reducing income and ethnic health disparities nationwide, even in the poorest and most challenged communities

• Reducing infant mortality rates

• Producing $24 billion in annual health system savings

• Reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and unnecessary visits to the emergency room

• Maintaining patient satisfaction levels of nearly 100 percent

Health centers are also increasingly becoming the trusted provider of choice for many families – and over nearly 300,000 veterans. In Ohio, health centers serve over 575,000 patients at over 232 locations. Evidence shows patients choose health centers because they are convenient, affordable, and offer a comprehensive range of services from a team of caring professionals. In our state, over 75 percent of health centers are recognized as patient-centered medical homes (PCMH).  Studies also show the quality of care at a health center is as good or even better than private practices.

The work of Community Health Centers continues to draw praise during NHCW from bipartisan members of Ohio’s General Assembly, Kasich Administration and federal and local officials too.

“Every day we witness the value of having a patient-centered healthcare home,” said Randy Runyon, CEO. “When people have a place to go for regular care, they use it and stay healthier. Ohio’s Community Health Centers provide a range of services onsite – primary care services, pediatrics, pharmacy, dentistry, even behavioral health and vision services. Health centers do not just prevent illness, they go beyond simple healthcare delivery to address the factors that cause it, such as nutrition, joblessness, and mental health. This is what healthcare should be, and what we celebrate during NHCW.”

Although local solutions, health centers need sustained investment to meet the growing demand for their services and help more Americans gain access to affordable healthcare.  To learn more about Ohio’s health centers www.ohiochc.org. You can also follow the conversation using #NHCW15 on Twitter.

About Ohio’s Community Health Centers

Federally Qualified Health Centers and FQHC Look-Alikes, more commonly referred to as Community Health Centers (CHCs), are non-profit health care providers that deliver affordable, high-quality and comprehensive primary care to medically underserved populations, regardless of insurance status. CHCs provide integrated whole person care, oftentimes providing onsite dental, behavioral, pharmacy, vision and other needed supplemental services under one roof. While each CHC is distinct, they share one common purpose: to provide primary health care services that are coordinated, culturally and linguistically competent and community directed.

About OACHC

The Ohio Association of Community Health Centers (OACHC) is a not-for-profit professional association representing Ohio's Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs, or community health centers). OACHC's Mission is to ensure access to high-quality affordable health care for all Ohioans through the growth and development of Ohio's Community Health Centers. OACHC represents Ohio's 44 Community Health Centers at over 232 locations, including multiple mobile units in 58 of Ohio’s 88 counties. Please visit www.ohiochc.org for more information.