Gov’t Officials to Mark 50th Anniv. of Nat’l Health Center Programs at OHI Fair
Legislators, and government and local officials will be attending Ocean Health Initiatives (OHI) Community Family Health Fair commemorating the 50th anniversary of National Health Center Programs, rain or shine, Monday, August 10, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., at OHI’s Lakewood Health Center, 101 Second St., Lakewood, N.J.
A program to recognize health center programs and to celebrate 50 years of success in health care delivery through the work and programs of community health centers will begin at 12:00 p.m. in the parking lot next to OHI, a federally qualified health center (FQHC).
Dr. Theresa Berger, the CEO of OHI, will welcome officials and guests. Jillian Hudspeth, the president and CEO of NJPCA (New Jersey Primary Care Association), the sponsor of the Fair, will recognize the representatives from each health center in attendance and present them with honorary gifts. The Governor of New Jersey, Senator Singer and Lakewood Township have sent proclamations in honor of this event.
Confirmed speakers include Jackie Cornell-Bechelli, Regional Director, Region II, N.Y., N.J., Puerto Rico and Vermont, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and Cathleen D. Bennett, Acting Commissioner of Health, New Jersey Department of Health. John Turk, administrative aide, Senator Robert Singer’s office, 30th Legislative District; Jeffrey Olsen, field representative, Congressman Tom MacArthur, U.S. House of Representatives; and Deputy Mayor Menashe Miller, Lakewood Township, are among the honored guests.
At the conclusion of the program, officials will be given a tour of OHI, and all attendees are invited to enjoy the Fair under a tent at which many organizations and vendors will provide free health screenings, health education and information, fun and games for the entire family, and giveaways.
The theme of National Health Center Week 2015, August 9 -15, is America’s Health Centers: Celebrating Our Legacy, Shaping Our Future. The National Health Center Week campaign is designed to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s Health Centers, the largest and most successful system of primary health care.
OHI is offering free screenings, such as dental, blood pressure, and glucose readings. As part of its Live Healthy Ocean County program, Ocean County Health Department will do screenings for lead, osteoporosis, stroke risk, blood pressure, and BMI (Body Mass Index).
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Horizon NJ Health is supplying a DJ and music, cholesterol screenings for the first 25 people, blood pressure screenings, and giveaways. United Healthcare will have a mobile unit and will provide health screenings, and giveaways. Amerigroup will also provide health education and giveaways.
National Health Center Week, recognized by health centers throughout the United States, was spearheaded in New Jersey by the New Jersey Primary Care Association (NJPCA), a nonprofit corporation that represents the organizational providers and affiliates of community-based ambulatory health care statewide.
For vendor space contact OHI at promotions@ohinj.org. For more information visit http://www.healthcenterweek.org or National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) at www.nachc.org. For questions about the Family Health Fair, contact Kimberly Tozzi, community relations liaison, at 732-719-9016.
About Ocean Health Initiatives
OHI is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) federally qualified health center (FQHC) with locations at 101 Second Street, Lakewood; 301 Lakehurst Road, Toms River; 333 Haywood Road, Manahawkin; Lakehurst Circle Center II, 686 Route 70 Lakehurst; a health center within the Clifton Avenue Elementary School, 625 Clifton Avenue, Lakewood; and a Mobile Medical Unit.
OHI provides comprehensive primary and preventative health care to Ocean County’s insured, uninsured and underinsured populations. A sliding-fee scale is available, based on an individual’s or family’s ability to pay. Services include pediatrics, maternal and child health, prenatal, WIC, universal immunizations, behavioral health, dental, family medicine, internal medicine, OB/GYN, podiatry and social services.
OHI has a bilingual staff available to assist patients and callers. To become a patient of OHI, call 732-363-6655. Visit www.ohinj.org for further information.
About National Health Care Centers (Taken from NHCW Press Release)
Health centers started 50 years ago as a pilot project during President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty. Today, 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 ER
• Maintaining patient satisfaction levels of nearly 100 percent
Health centers serve more than 23 million people nationwide – that’s one in 15 Americans, including 7 million children and 260,000 veterans. Health centers are also 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 as or even better than private practices.