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Newark Emergency Services for Families, Inc. (NESF) Facilities Opening
July 28, 2004
 Newark, NJ - The Newark Community Health Centers, Inc.
today held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening
of its satellite primary health care center -- the Newark
Healthcare Center at the Newark Emergency Services for
Families, Inc. (NESF) facilities on Broad Street. The
center will provide comprehensive health care services
for Newark-area women and children.
“We are proud to officially open the
doors to this site, which will offer a broad spectrum of
first-rate services,” said Dr. Gerald Belgrave, President/CEO
of Newark Community Health Centers, Inc. “The
additional site will provide affordable and accessible health
care services for patients in Newark who desperately need
care have limited financial resources to pay for treatments.”
The site will be one of the 66 primary care access points established
throughout New Jersey via the state’s 18
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). In an effort
to provide quality health care to residents in a medically
underserved neighborhood, the Newark FQHC satellite center
will provide patient care on a sliding financial scale.
“Primary care health centers have a proven track record in improving
prenatal and infant health outcomes, increasing childhood immunizations, decreasing
health disparities and reducing reliance on costly emergency rooms for non-emergent
conditions,’’ DHSS Commissioner Clifton R. Lacy, M.D. said.
“The reason for expanding access to community health centers is evident
in the 1.3 million state residents who lack health insurance,” Commissioner
Lacy said. “We can and must do better to link the uninsured with
primary and preventive health care services in the community.’’
“Traditionally medically underserved neighborhoods, such as Newark, will
benefit from this FQHC ten-fold because of the need for affordable community-based
health care services,” added Belgrave. “This new location
will add to our growing network of health care centers that are focused on
filling a void in medical care for patients in our community.”
“The overwhelming support from the
community and regional elected officials is greatly appreciated
and we look forward to working with them to provide Newark
residents with the best health care service possible,” said
Belgrave.
Newark Community Health Centers, Inc. is
partnering with the social services agency to provide on-site
women’s
health services, including gynecological exams, pregnancy
testing, prenatal and postpartum care, family planning, patient
education and diagnostic-testing referrals. The newest
satellite site will be established at the existing home of
NSEF, which has provided emergency food, clothing, shelter,
utilities, rent and other basic necessities to families in
crisis since 1977.
The FQHC will be located at 982
Broad Street to close the gap between social services and
primary health care services available for residents of Newark’s
Central Ward. New Jersey Federally Qualified Health Centers
provide year-round medical services to more than 235,000
patients who otherwise would not have access to quality primary
health care. |
