National Health Center Week 2021

National Health Center Week 2021 will be celebrated both in person and virtually this year from August 8 – August 14.

Health centers like El Rio Health provide preventive and primary care services to almost 30 million people and have continued to do so while facing a global pandemic. Community Health Centers provide care to people who disproportionately suffer from chronic disease and lack access to affordable, quality care. While our approach is community-based and local, collectively we are the backbone of the nation’s primary care system. Community Health Centers lower health care costs to the tune of 24 billion dollars a year, reduce rates chronic diseases, and stimulate local economies.

Community Health Centers are not just healers, we are innovators who look beyond medical charts to address the factors that may cause poor health, such as poverty, homelessness, substance use, mental illness, lack of nutrition, and unemployment. We are a critical piece of the health care systems and collaborate with hospitals, local and state governments, social, health and business organizations to improve health outcome for people who are medically vulnerable.

While COVID-19 continues to exacerbate social and medical inequities across the country, Community Health Centers like El Rio have stretched themselves to reconfigure services for those in need. As unemployment rates rise and more people lose their employee-sponsored health insurance, Community Health Centers must remain open to provide care for all, regardless of insurance status.

The mission of Community Health Centers remains crucial today because access to basic care remains a challenge in parts of the United States. Many people live in remote and underserved communities where there is a shortage of providers and, in many cases, the nearest doctor or hospital can be as far as a 50-mile drive in another county.

Congress must act immediately for CHCs to continue to serve as health care homes.  Long-term and stable funding for Community Health Centers will ensure we can keep our doors open and close the growing access gap for medically vulnerable communities.

Show your support during National Health Center Week by supporting El Rio Health. We will be there when you need us.

To learn more about National Health Center week, visit www.healthcenterweek.org

El Rio Events & Resources

Healthcare for the Homeless Event, Monday, August 9, 8:00am – 9:30am: El Rio Health and the H.S. Lopez Family Foundation Center of Opportunity will host an event raising awareness of the great work being done at it’s campus for Tucson’s homeless population.

Patient Appreciation Day, Wednesday, August 11th: We will be celebrating with the theme of “Take a Ball, Have a Ball” sponsored by El Rio Health Builders at all our health centers. If you are an El Rio patient, know that you are appreciated every day!

Staff Appreciation Day, Friday, August 13th: We will honor our staff for their compassion and care they provide for our patients and community.

Children’s Health Day, Saturday, August 14th: We are excited to share our printable coloring pages, click HERE to download and print. We are also planning on something special in the Peds departments that day.

Health Builders Zoom/Hybrid Fitness Classes: Click HERE to see the current class schedule.