Event is Part of National Campaign Celebrating America’s Health Centers’ Success

News Release 8/13/2013

PERTH AMBOY – Jewish Renaissance Medical Center (JRMC), the nation’s first ever faith-based federally qualified healthcare center (FQHC), marked National Health Center Week 2013 (NHCW) with a Great Health Fair as part of a week-long campaign (August 11-17) to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s Health Centers as local solutions for affordable and accessible health care.

In the parking lot of Jewish Renaissance Foundation, 149 Kearny Ave., Perth Amboy on Friday, Aug. 16, there was a health fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a ceremony taking place at 10:30 a.m. where dignitaries presented proclamations to JRMC.

One of the bright spots in America’s health care system, community health center and FQHC’s such as Jewish Renaissance have compiled a significant record of success by:

• • Reducing income and ethnic health disparities nationwide, even in the poorest and most challenged communities
• • Producing $24 billion in annual health system savings
• • Reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and unnecessary visits to the ER
• • Generating a system of preventive medicine that patients use regularly to stay healthy, thus saving lives.

Two proclamations describing this important work were presented. A municipal proclamation was delivered by the Honorable Mayor Wilda Diaz of Perth Amboy as well as a state-level proclamation by Governor Chris Christie read by Linda Anderson, Director of the Office of Primary Care, Division of Family Health Services, NJ Dept. of Health. Remarks about the importance of the Affordable Care Act were given by the US Department of Health and Human Services Northeast Region II Director, Dr. Jaime Torres.

“Every day in our waiting rooms I witness the value of having a patient-centered health care home,” said Mark Roberts, Jewish Renaissance Medical Center CEO. “When people have a place to go for regular care, they use it and stay healthier. We provide a range of services onsite – primary adult care services, pediatrics, OB/GYN, pharmacy, dentistry, and 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.”

To find out more about National Health Center Week, visit www.healthcenterweek.org To find out more about the Affordable Care Act, visit: www.healthcare.gov

* Photos by Paul Wang