“America’s Health Centers: Rooted in Communities.” The theme of this year’s National Health Center Week aptly recognizes and celebrates the ways in which health centers are connected to the communities they serve.
“I know that when I work with a health center I am in the beating heart of that community. The staff’s dedication to service and devotion to patients is evident every day,” said Deliana Garcia, MA, MCN’s Director of International Projects and Emerging Issues.
One in 12 people [2] nationwide rely on health centers for affordable and accessible primary care. This amounts to 28 million patients [3] across the US. Health centers provide vital support to one in three people living in poverty, one in five rural residents, and one in nine children [2].
“Health centers form the backbone of our safety net system for primary care in this country,” said Karen Mountain, MBA, MSN, RN, MCN’s Chief Executive Officer. “Over 15,000 caring health center clinicians provide quality, culturally relevant, and comprehensive health care to people throughout the US regardless of their legal status, socioeconomic status, or ability to pay.”
MCN’s 35-year history reflects 35 years of collaboration with health centers across the nation from Washington to Puerto Rico to Virginia to California and everywhere in between. MCN staff knows health centers -- we’ve worked in them, we’ve worked with them, and we’ve celebrated their accomplishments along the way.
“I began my medical career working at a health center in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, serving disadvantaged communities who face difficult challenges such as food insecurity, lack of reliable transportation, and lack of resources,” reflected Laszlo Madaras, MD, MPH, SFHM, MCN’s Chief Medical Officer. “I’ve seen firsthand how invaluable health centers are for the health and well-being of our country.”
Learn more about National Health Center Week [4] and Federally Qualified Health Centers [5].
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