The National Association of Community Health Centers reports that community health centers (CHCs) throughout the United States served a historical number of 32.5 million patients in 2023. This equates to CHCS serving 1 in 11 people including:
1 in 9 children and adolescents
1 in 4 racial and ethnic minorities
1 in 6 Medicaid beneficiaries
1 in 5 uninsured persons
1 in 3 people in poverty
Our 28 member CHCs deliver care to more than 1.1 million Washingtonians each year at over 350 clinic sites throughout the state.
At the heart of all those numbers is the patient. That’s what makes National Health Center Week’s Patient Appreciation Day on August 7th so special. Many CHCs throughout the state have activities planned to recognize their patients and take the opportunity to celebrate them – read below to find out what’s happening at a few of them!
Yakima Neighborhood Health Services is celebrating their patients on August 7th at the Yakima Clinic and August 8th at the Sunnyside Clinic for their Family Health Fair from 1 – 3 PM. Patients can learn more about health and community services, immunizations, and health screenings. There will be activities for children including games, water balloons, snow cones and more!
The Quincy Community Health Center, which is part of the Moses Lake Community Health Center, is celebrating its patients on August 8th, from 2 PM – 6 PM, with a Back-to-School Health Fair. This event is to help parents and children be back to school ready which includes being up to date with their immunizations. Each child who has completed a well-child exam and is current with their immunizations will receive a free backpack of their choice.
From 10am – 1PM on August 7th, Unity Care is hosting a Patient Appreciation Day in the Unity Street Courtyard. Patients can enjoy healthy snacks and other giveaways like Unity Care swag which includes sunscreen, lip balms, frisbees, and coloring books. Patients also have the chance to apply for their Sliding Fee Discount Program, ensuring that they have access to health care regardless of ability to pay. The League of Women Voters will be onsite to answer questions about voting and help get people registered to vote. There will also be an opportunity for patients to learn about affordable health plans from MCOs, United Health, CHPW, and Molina will all be there.
Marissa McGrath, Communications and Policy Associate for Unity Care, summed up the importance of this day, “We appreciate patients because they are our ‘why.’ We are here for them. There would be no CHC movement without them. They are our community, our family, our friends, they are us.”
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