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

People’s Health Centers to Host Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day To Increase Healthcare Access to Community Residents

Date: September 17, 2003. People’s Health Centers (PHC), is promoting a week of community outreach to the medically underserved, focused on Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day, September 17th. Leading the effort for a second year as honorary chairperson is ABC radio personality Tom Joyner.

The event entitled “Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day” will kick-off with a reception Wednesday, September 17th at 10:00 am at People’s Health Centers located at 5701 Delmar Blvd. with health screening activities beginning at 8:30 am that day. Fred Schuster, Regional Director of Region VII of the United States Department of Health and Human Services will be the featured presenter at the reception. Fred Schuster has been a stellar leader in the fight against cancer and bringing equality and high quality of care to all Americans. Betty Jean Kerr, health center C.E.O. is delighted that Fred Schuster selected St. Louis and People’s Health Centers to sponsor this important open house to kick off such an important community event. The community is invited to participate in the free screenings and to meet Fred Schuster on September 17th. The focus of the day will be free health screenings and to encourage individuals to take charge of their health by visiting a PHC doctor, nurse practitioner, making an appointment for a visit or helping a friend, neighbor or family member do the same.

In his capacity as regional director, Mr. Schuster serves as HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson’s direct representative responsible for the guidance and coordination of HHS policies and initiatives with state and local governments in the region. Community health centers play an important role in providing health care for poor and uninsured populations. HHS works with community health centers to call attention to disparities in the burden of death and illness experienced by minority and underserved populations. Cancer, along with homicide, depression, chronic disease, infant mortality and morbidity, alcohol and substance abuse, represent community health problems occurring more frequently among uninsured, Medicaid and underinsured minority residents of the City of St. Louis, than in any other part of the State.

To address the health disparities facing residents of the targeted population, PHC has programs to address the most critical health issues in the community with emphasis on eliminating chronic disease health disparities through the effective expansion of the cancer collaborative until we have achieved the goal of primary prevention that is described under the Healthy People 2010 Objectives.

“The medically underserved are often unaware of the existing health services available to them, including simple preventative and health promotion activities. There is great value in raising awareness about affordable and accessible health care as well as providing appropriate community based interventions. PHC’s has a goal to educate the community on how important it is to take the time to have routine healthcare examinations performed, said Betty Jean Kerr, C.E.O. of People’s. “The time required to get a comprehensive physical examination may prove to be life saving and this event will be one of the many ways that the medically underserved can take advantage of the affordable healthcare available to them in St. Louis.”

PHC has been in the forefront in the provision of quality health care to the medically undeserved for the past 30 years and has three clinical sites and one youth center. PHC’s history and mission reflect accessible, comprehensive medical services through the establishment of broad-based collaborations and partnerships to maximize health care for those vulnerable to disease and disability. PHC offers cancer related services five days a week and on three late evenings depending on location. 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. “Last year, PHC 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. People’s Health Centers are open to everyone who seeks their care, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

Bring your neighbor and a friend to help People’s Health Centers celebrate 30 years of Service to the Community with Free Health Screenings and Refreshments. For more information on the reception or activities, please contact Mark Sanford (314) 367-7848 x 1205.