News and Events

Press release

Contact: Mark Sanford
Director of Planning and Development
Work 314.367.7848
Fax 314.367.2985

For Immediate Release – News and Calendar Event

Congressman William L. Clay, Jr. to speak As Part of National Health Center Week Celebration

ST. LOUIS, Wednesday August 13th - People’s Health Centers (PHC) extends to the public an invitation to meet Congressman William L. Clay, Jr. for an informal national healthcare discussion and update, Wednesday, August 13, at 10:30 a.m. at People’s Health Centers, 5701 Delmar Blvd. located in West End district of the city of St. Louis. Free health screenings, and refreshments will be provided as part of the centers’ celebration of National Health Center Week. A question and answer discussion of national healthcare issues, open house, health screenings and tour of PHC’s community health centers will highlight the week.

The week of August 10 - 16, 2003, has been designated National Health Center Week and PHC will be celebrating 30 years of serving America’s uninsured and medically underserved. As part of it’s observance of National Health Center Week, PHC will be hosting this exciting event with an appearance by Congressman Clay. . PHC has a track record of 30 years helping expand access to health care and promote health and prevention through the support of private and public partnerships. “Health Centers are open to everyone who seeks their care, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Last year, PHC Centers served 31,990 people in the St. Louis community. Included were a significant number of families who had no health insurance and who otherwise would have been unable to access quality and cost-effective primary care and preventive health services,” said Vickie Frager, Clinic administrator.

An uninsured patient receives care at a health center for about a $1.25 a day, or about $425 annually. And because community needs and demands drive health centers, three-fourths of health center funding comes from sources other than the federal government. One of the goals of National Health Center Week is to direct attention to the ongoing efforts of President Bush and the Congress to strengthen the health center infrastructure. The President’s Health Center Initiative calls upon the nation to double the capacity of heath centers with 1,200 new and expanded health center sites that will allow serving an additional 6 million people by 2006. “Community-based health centers have proven their value in reducing health disparities and achieving cost savings in health and prevention. “More than 500,000 newly-uninsured patients have sought care at health centers in the last three years alone,” said Vickie Frager, Clinic administrator. There is no question that with health cares costs rising and with more than 41 million people uninsured in this nation, we need more health centers to better secure and protect the health of America’s communities,” said Vickie Frager, Clinic administrator. In addition, the Institute of Medicine has proposed tapping 40 Community Health Centers to develop national models of practice for the delivery of “stellar” primary care as part of the solution to the national health care crisis. PHC, is long known as a provider of comprehensive health care services to individuals, families and the small business community in St. Louis. The media is invited to take part in this event and to help celebrate access to healthcare services by the community this Wednesday, August 13, at 10:30 a.m.. PHC has three clinical locations to serve the community including 5701 Delmar Blvd., 7200 Manchester Road and the newest location at 11642 West Florissant Road, one block west of highway 270 and the Clocktower shopping mall.

People’s Health Centers is a not-for-profit organization celebrating 30 years of service

People’s Health Centers Proclamation

August 10 - 16, 2003

WHEREAS: People’s Health Centers is a private, nonprofit corporation that provides high quality, comprehensive primary health care to uninsured and medically underserved people in St. Louis; and

WHEREAS: People’s Health Centers has made great strides in expanding access to affordable health care and reducing health disparities while empowering the community to address special needs and decrease the cost of illness through preventive strategies; and

WHEREAS: People’s Health Centers has improved the health status of the St. Louis metropolitan Community promoting health awareness and providing primary care and preventive health services of the highest quality to reduce preventable deaths, costly disabilities, and communicable diseases; and

WHEREAS: People’s Health Centers serves as a vital safety net delivering care to 31,990 patients annually, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, and contributes to the health and overall economy of the community with health services, jobs, leadership and investment; and

WHEREAS: People’s Health Centers promotes 100% access and zero health disparities to help achieve primary health care for all people;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Congressman William L. Clay, Jr., do hereby proclaim the week of August 10 through August 16, 2003 as “ Health Center Week” in St. Louis, and urge the citizens to recognize the important contributions of the People’s Health Centers in safeguarding health and improving the quality of life for the people of St. Louis.

Editorial Board Request Letter

TO: Editors
FROM: People’s Health Centers
Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 10:30 a.m.

RE: Editorial Board and Congressman William L. Clay Jr. Meeting

The week of August 10-16, 2003 has been designated National Health Center Week. In preparation for this week, People’s Health Centers welcomes the opportunity to have members of your Editorial Board to discuss issues currently facing community health centers and the patients we serve along with Congressman William L. Clay, Jr. on Wednesday August 13, at 10:30 a.m. at People’s Health Centers located at 5701 Delmar Blvd.

Community, Migrant and Homeless Health Centers constitute a vital safety net in the nation’s health delivery system bringing doctors and needed primary care and preventive health services into medically underserved communities. Health Center patients include low-income working families, the uninsured, and many high-risk and vulnerable patients including the homeless, migrant and seasonal farm workers, the frail elderly, and poor women and children.

In the effort to expand access to health care and to meet the rising demand for affordable health care, President Bush and the Congress have provided a public mandate to strengthen the health center infrastructure. The President’s Health Center Initiative calls for doubling the capacity of health centers with 1,200 new and expanded health center sites that will allow serving an additional 6 million people by 2006. Nationwide, health centers currently serve some 13 million of America’s uninsured and medically underserved in 3,500 communities.

We hope that members of your Editorial Board will come Wednesday, August 13 at 10:30 a.m. and consider covering our activities during National Health Center Week, in the newspaper. Coverage would enhance public awareness of the role our health center plays in meeting community health needs and the valuable contributions it is making in helping more Americans to better health at cost savings for the nation. For your information, I have attached some brief information about our health center programs. I can be reached at 314.367.7848, or by email at msanford@phcenters.com. We are looking forward to meeting you.

Thank you.
Mark Sanford

Public Service Announcements

National Health Center Week

This is National Health Center Week. Across the country, local communities will recognize the contributions of Community, Migrant and Homeless and Public Housing Health Centers in promoting health and prevention.

In St. Louis, People’s Health Centers is sponsoring a program. This is an opportunity for you to take advantage of free health screenings and to learn more about the services and programs available. Health Centers believe in keeping people healthy. We are providers of high quality and affordable health care to all in need. Visit us at People’s Health Centers and learn how you can improve and protect your health. For more information, call: Mark Sanford at 314-367-7848 x 1205. Far too often, people delay in getting the health care they need because they lack insurance or they cannot afford to pay the bills and the high costs of prescriptions. If you need medical attention – Don’t Wait or Delay! Call People’s Health Centers in St. Louis and find out what we can do for you. We provide high quality and affordable health care. Our doors are open to all people, regardless of ability to pay. Call us at 314-367-7848 or stop by our Health Center Wednesday, August 13, at 10:30 a.m. as we celebrate National Health Center Week. Let our committed doctors and staff help YOU.

St. Louis takes great pride in its community health center. Because of People’s Health Centers more families have access to doctors and good health care. At People’s Health Centers patients come first! Programs are tailored to meet the special needs of patients – and the center offers translation – even transportation services to make sure patients get the responsive care and help they need to stay healthy. Make a visit to the Health Center/Open House Wednesday, August 13, at 10:30 a.m.sponsored by People’s Health Centers this week – and take a step to better health. For details call: Mark Sanford at 314-367-7848.

News Advisory

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Mark Sanford
Work: 314-367-7848
Fax: 314-367-2985

Date: August 13, 2003 at 10:30AM

Health Center to Hold Special Program FOR “National Health Center Week”

People’s Health Centers will hold free health screenings, tour, press conference to underscore the vital role Community Health Centers play in caring for the medically underserved and uninsured. The event comes as more and more Americans negotiate a landscape of diminishing health care options, paying record out of pocket health care costs, and losing their health insurance benefits.

Across the nation, America’s Health Centers care for almost 13 million people in more than 3,500 communities. People’s Health Centers serves 31,990 patients a year in the communities of St. Louis, most of whom rely on Medicaid or Medicare or have no insurance at all. The Honorable Congressman William L. Clay, Jr. will be our special guest speaker.

WHAT: Special Program
WHEN: Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 10:30AM
WHERE: 5701 Delmar Blvd. * St. Louis, MO 63112

*Members of the press and public are invited to attend.