Even as more Americans have health insurance coverage these days, a serious healthcare problem persists nationwide: a shortage of places to get the primary and preventive care services that everyone needs.
A key part of the solution lies in our nation’s community health centers, which have provided quality, affordable care for the past five decades, and are increasingly becoming the go-to medical home for growing numbers of working Americans.
Today, there are more than 1,300 health centers serving more than 23 million Americans, including about seven million children and 260,000 veterans in more than 9,200 communities across the country.
Why does the demand for health center services continue to grow? One reason is that they are good at what they do. Health center patients report satisfaction levels of nearly 100 percent. Also, health center services are conveniently offered in one single location and may include dental, pharmacy, mental health and substance abuse counseling, vision, pediatric, geriatric, OB-GYN and much more.
Health centers go beyond simple healthcare delivery to solve problems that can affect community health, such as nutrition, joblessness and mental health.
NYU Lutheran Family Health Centers will join community health centers across the nation to celebrate National Health Center Week (August 9-15) at all nine of our primary care facilities around Brooklyn.
From Tuesday, August 11 to Friday, August 14, we will provide free blood pressure, colorectal, dental and HIV screenings, including free consultations on child care and women’s health. Voter registration will also be conducted at all our sites. Everyone is welcomed to join us during this weeklong celebration. Find the full schedule of screening times and locations at http://bit.ly/1gKibGG.
Nationally, health centers, including NYU Lutheran Family Health Centers, averted a massive cut to funding earlier this year. We extend special thanks to U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Congressmembers Nydia Velázquez, Jerrold Nadler and Hakeem Jeffries for their actions.
Without their leadership, hundreds of families in our community would have lost access to affordable healthcare at NYU Lutheran Family Health Centers. Today, we are grateful for their support and are dedicating our National Health Center Week to them as a token of thanks for their legislative support.
The efforts by leaders like them and the support of the community that uses critical health center services have enabled health centers around the country to continue the work of healing communities in need.
Please save the date for August 11-14, meet with our primary care providers and tour our facilities; you’ll see why family is part of our name.
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