STATEMENT OF RECORD RELEASE
August 8, 2022
Media Contact:
For Public Health Management Corporation
Emily Charles, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 215-589-7183
PHMC Celebrates National Health Center Week
PHMC Health Network continues to expand high-quality access to care through several key initiatives
PHILADELPHIA – Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities, and PHMC Health Network, its network of six Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), commemorate National Health Center Week, August 7-13. The annual celebration raises awareness of the health centers across the country providing high-quality health care, improving health outcomes, and narrowing health disparities.
“National Health Center Week shines an important spotlight on the crucial role community health centers play in serving uninsured and underinsured individuals and families, a role that has never been more critical,” said Richard J. Cohen, President and CEO at PHMC. “My deepest thanks and appreciation to the incredible clinicians and staff of PHMC Health Network and throughout the PHMC enterprise who tirelessly serve Philadelphia’s most vulnerable.”
This year’s theme, Community Health Centers – The Chemistry for Strong Communities, honors the front-line providers, staff, and patients who lost their lives during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and recognizes the innovative ways health centers have adapted to care for patients. PHMC is proud to highlight several key initiatives to reduce health disparities and improve access to care:
PHMC Pharmacy
Coinciding with National Health Center Week, PHMC Health Network, in partnership with Apovia – a pharmacy services provider, is launching PHMC Pharmacy at the PHMC Health and Wellness Center, located at 12th and Callowhill Streets in Philadelphia. The PHMC Care Clinic, part of the PHMC Health Network, is located on-site as well. Health Network patients will have easy access to pharmacy services in coordination with their health care provider, including professional consultations with a pharmacist, low-cost prescriptions and affordable prescription plans, easy pick-up and delivery, and refill reminders. PHMC Pharmacy is an important addition to the Health Network, ensuring better medication management and health outcomes for patients, and a greater integration of care of individuals, families and communities.
PHMC Health Center on Cedar
Earlier this year, PHMC announced the opening of its newest FQHC, the PHMC Health Center on Cedar located at the PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar in West Philadelphia. The Health Center is staffed by clinicians from Penn Medicine’s Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and provides community members with access to high-quality, integrated, patient-centered health care in collaboration with Penn Medicine.
The PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar is an innovative and integrated public health campus formed in partnership with PHMC, Penn Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Independence Blue Cross Foundation.
Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Inequity
PHMC Health Network has been a critical COVID-19 resource for communities throughout Philadelphia and has worked to reduce barriers to care throughout the pandemic. In addition to offering COVID-19 testing and vaccinations through the PHMC Health Network, PHMC’s Health Care for the Homeless program visited shelters across the city to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, a population that was especially at-risk.
“The six health centers that comprise our PHMC Health Network are critical resources to their communities,” said Donna Bailey, Chief Integrated Health Services Officer at PHMC. “Every day across Philadelphia, our teams are closing the health access gap for individuals and families that need care.”
In celebration of National Health Center Week, PHMC will recognize and thank Health Network patients and staff this week with a schedule of events and programming. Events across the Network include memorials for community members who have passed away from COVID-19, health and wellness programming, nutrition and cooking demonstrations, recovery and sexual health resources, and on-site celebrations with food, games, giveaways, and more.
For more information on PHMC Health Network, please visit https://healthnetwork.phmc.org/.
About PHMC
Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities. PHMC uses best practices and evidence-based guidelines to improve community health through direct service, partnership, innovation, policy, research, technical assistance, and a prepared workforce. PHMC has served the region since 1972. For more information on PHMC, visit www.phmc.org.
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