Communities across the country will celebrate National Health Center Week 2024 Aug. 4-10.
Elected officials will join in recognizing the critical work of the nation’s nearly 1,500 Community Health Centers to keep our communities healthy and safe. Lawmakers’ visits and messages of support to health centers demonstrate that not only is it possible to move beyond the partisan divide over healthcare, but to support and agree on a program vital to our communities.
Health centers provide integrated preventive and primary care services to 31.5 million people and are the first to respond with wraparound care during disasters and health emergencies.
Health centers’ patient-directed model of care is tailored to the unique needs of each community. Together, we are the backbone of the nation’s primary care system. The facilities save the U.S. healthcare system money by reducing the rate of chronic diseases and costly hospital visits.
Tri-Area Community Health provides medical and behavioral health services, pharmacy services, medication assistance, sliding fee program, patient transportation, diabetes education, and other services.
Health centers are not just healers, as staff looks beyond medical charts to not only prevent illness but also address the factors that may cause poor health, such as poverty, homelessness, substance use, access to nutritious food, and unemployment.
Local health centers are a critical part of the U.S. healthcare system and collaborate with hospitals; local and state governments; social, health, and business organizations to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
The health center mission is crucial today because access to basic care remains a challenge to over 100 million people across the country. Many people live in remote areas and communities where there is a shortage of providers and, in many cases, the nearest medical provider or hospital can be as far as a 50-mile drive in another county.
Long-term, stable funding for health centers ensures they can keep doors open and narrow the growing access gap for medically vulnerable communities.
Tri-Area is grateful that Representative Morgan Griffith, Senator Tim Kaine and Senator Mark Warner have shown leadership in supporting/sponsoring legislation that will protect health centers from losing a major part of our funding.
“Show your commitment during National Health Center Week by supporting a health center in your community,” Tri-Area officials said in a release. “We will be here when you need us.”
During National Health Center Week, Tri-Area Community Health will have an Open House at its Ferrum office from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7, complete with hot dogs, ice cream, games and more. On Thursday, Aug. 8, Tri-Area clinics will have freebies for patients as a part of Patient Appreciation Day.
An open house and ribbon cutting will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 9, at the newly opened pharmacy in Fries.
Learn more about Tri-Area locations, services and more at www.triareahealth.org.
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