National Health Center Week runs from August 4th through the 10th with each day highlighting the important work health centers, like Family First Health, do day in and day out. You can find the list of each day’s theme here. To kickoff National Health Center Week 2024, and to recognize “Public Health in Housing” day, we want to shine a light on our Community Medical Program’s work with the Affordable Housing Advocates to improve public health in their housing properties in underserved communities.
The team’s work with Affordable Housing Advocates began in June 2023. Our Community Medical Program goes to Delphia House, Kingston House, and Cloverfield Apartments monthly to provide free blood pressure screenings, linkage to care, and insurance navigation. They have also offered vaccine events, smoking cessation classes, and provided COVID test kits and education.
Having the Community Medical Team come onsite to these locations eliminates the barriers to the residents so that they can receive vaccines, screenings, testing, and education. Since they have been coming to these locations, the team has done 241 blood pressure checks to the residents. The team has also linked residents to Family First Health services and assisted with insurance needs.
For the residents of Affordable Housing Advocates, having our Community Medical Program coming onsite and providing these services is breaking down any potential barrier that they may have previously had, such as transportation. The residents can meet with an RN, get their blood pressure checked, receive health information, or talk to a Community Health Worker about social or insurance needs. Hear from some of the residents about the impact our Community Medical Program is making on their lives:
“I am able to get my pressure checked in the comfort of where I live. I do not have to travel anywhere to get it checked.” -Anonymous
“It is convenient. Comes every month. Do not have to worry about if I have high blood pressure anymore.” – Anonymous
“When they check my blood pressure, I can give that information to my doctor and they have said that having my blood pressure checked each month is very important as I get older. I am very blessed to have this program.” – Anonymous
For more information about our Community Medical Program, please contact our Community Medical Program Manager at 717-845-8617 ext. 4876.