VNA Health Care celebrates National Health Center Week
VNA Health Care is marking National Health Center Week 2015 with a celebration at all nine of its health centers as part of a weeklong campaign, Aug. 9-15, to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America's Health Centers, the largest and most successful system of primary health care.
One of the bright spots in America's health care system, 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 or even better than private practices.
"Every day in our waiting rooms, I witness the value of having a patient-centered health care home," said Linnea Windel, president and CEO of VNA Health Care. "When people have a place to go for regular care, they use it and stay healthier. We provide a range of services on-site - 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."
Although local solutions, health centers need sustained federal investment to meet the growing demand for their services and help more Americans gain access to affordable health care.
To learn more about health centers and the "#Access is the Answer" campaign, visit National Association of Community Health Centers at www.nachc.org.
You can also follow the #CHC50 hashtag on Twitter.
For more information about VNA Health Care, visit www.vnahealth.com.
VNA Health Care provides affordable health care to 65,000 women, men and children living primarily in Kane, DuPage, and Will counties. VNA operates nine community health centers and is nationally ranked as a top performing health center as a result of patient outcomes such as high quality prenatal care, control of diabetes, and up-to-date immunizations for children. Its combination of convenience (by appointment or walk-in), patient-centered technology and expert care delivered with respect and compassion have led to these results. In addition to the health centers, VNA offers home care and hospice services. VNA is accredited by The Joint Commission.