OHI to Mark the 50th Anniversary of National Health Center Programs with a Community Family Health Fair
Ocean Health Initiatives (OHI), a federally qualified health center (FQHC), is hosting its annual Community Family Health Fair, 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., to celebrate the 50th anniversary of National Health Center Programs during National Health Center Week 2015 (NHCW).
OHI will be joining with thousands of communities around the nation to recognize and celebrate 50 years of success in health care delivery through the work and programs of Community Health Centers. 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.
NJPCA (New Jersey Primary Care Association) is the sponsor of the Fair at which many organizations and vendors will provide free health screenings, health education and information, fun and games for the entire family, and giveaways. For vendor space contact OHI at promotions@ohinj.org.
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.
Dr. Theresa Berger, the CEO of OHI, said, “Every day in our waiting rooms I witness the value of having a patient-centered health care home. When people have a place to go for regular care, they use it and stay healthier. We provide a range of services onsite – primary care services, pediatrics, pharmacy, dentistry, even mental health services. 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.”
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 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.