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Community Health Center of the North Country marks 50th anniversary of the first ever community center in U.S.

Posted 8/11/15

Community Health Center of the North Country, with locations in Canton, Gouverneur, and Malone, is marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the first Community Health Centers in the …

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Community Health Center of the North Country marks 50th anniversary of the first ever community center in U.S.

Posted

Community Health Center of the North Country, with locations in Canton, Gouverneur, and Malone, is marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the first Community Health Centers in the United States as an experiment in President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty.

The North Country centers offer services including primary care and optometry, dental and behavioral health care. The organization is part of the shift to a “patient-centered” form of healthcare that integrates many services all under one roof. For example, with one stop at any of their practices, people can get help with insurance enrollment, schedule an appointment with a physician, get prescriptions written and have a visit with a community outreach coordinator who can help with transportation challenges to and from future appointments.

According to the National Association of Community Health Centers, patients on average saved $1,263 dollars annually by utilizing these health center services, and reported high satisfaction with the care they obtained.

Aside from the access to primary and preventive care, North Country Family Health Center, and Community Health Center of the North Country impact our region in another way: together they employ approximately 700 people. This in turn makes them an engine for economic growth across the region directly and indirectly.

From Aug. 9 to 15, health centers will take time to highlight the achievements during National Health Center Week.

For more information on Health Center Week activities, and the services available, visit NoCoFamilyHealth.org and chcnorthcountry.org.