TOMS RIVER – National Health Center Week was kicked off in Toms River to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s Federally Qualified Health Centers which provide free health care to all.
The event was held at Ocean Health Initiatives’ Toms River facility at 10 Stockton Drive and while the skies threatened rain, the sun came out just as the event was set to start.
This year’s NHCW theme is “Community Health Centers: The Roadmap to a Stronger America” because community health centers strengthen the economic, physical, and emotional health of the communities they serve.
Following the kick-off press conference, OHI’s community event featured live music, free ice cream, balloon artists, photo booths, inflatable hoop games and many free giveaways from OHI and all the event sponsors: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ, United Health Care, Amerigroup, Fidelis Care (Wellcare) and Aetna. Attendees had the opportunity to tour the OHI facility.
The event’s keynote speaker was entrepreneur and philanthropist Eric LeGrande, a former defensive tackle who played college football at Rutgers. He became paralyzed while making a tackle on October 16, 2010.
LeGrand suffered a severe spinal cord injury during that game against Army in East Rutherford at MetLife Stadium. He has since regained movement in his shoulders and sensation throughout his body. As of 2020, LeGrand has been making consistent recovery at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation.
LaGrand said, “I was hoping to make it to the NFL. The amount of support I had was important. I was 20 years old and scared.”
He said that through adversity, “I wake up every morning with a purpose. Without healthcare I wouldn’t be here today. It isn’t about a pay check it is about the people you help, your patients. You do things that help people.”
The OHI event included the New Jersey Primary Care Association (NJPCA), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Region II, New Jersey Department of Human Services, New Jersey Department of Health, OHI President and CEO Dr. Theresa Berger, and Toms River Township Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill.
Dr. Berger noted that “health centers are responsible for providing critical care to over 30 million residents of our beautiful land, regardless of who they are, where they come from, or whether they can pay for their services.”
“Health centers serve a vital role in our nation’s local communities by filling in the gaps that other healthcare providers neglect: the poor, the undocumented, the disadvantaged and disenfranchised. It is organizations such as these that deliver on the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all Americans and every person who graces our land,” she added.
“National Health Center Week is a great time to recognize the contributions of our centers and spread the news about the availability of high quality, affordable care at each and every one of the 1,400 health centers and their 14,000 plus sites across the country,” NJPCA President and CEO Selina Haq said.
“Our centers are unique in the care they provide, the communities they serve, and the linkages to life-saving resources they create for their patients, and NJPCA is proud to celebrate this week in recognition of their extraordinary services,” she added.
New Jersey’s 23 FQHCs and one FQHC look-a-like serve nearly 600,000 patients across all 21 counties of the State and provide over 2.02 million primary, dental, and behavioral healthcare visits for their patients annually.
“Each year we celebrate National Health Center Week, spotlighting our Federally Qualified Health Centers and the vital primary care services provided for the most vulnerable people in our communities, people who often think quality, life-saving care may be hard to attain,” NJPCA Board Chair and Metropolitan Family Health Network President and CEO Joan Dublin said.
Cheryl Donald, Regional Administrator U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, said “health centers protect and promote the health of more than 30 million people in the U.S. For 58 years, health centers have delivered affordable, accessible, and high-quality primary health care to millions of people, regardless of their ability to pay. No one is turned away.”
NJ Department of Human Services Deputy Commissioner Elisa Neira said, “New Jersey’s community health centers serve as a lifeline for some of our most vulnerable populations. Expanding health care access to more New Jerseyans continues to be a priority for this administration, and the state’s community health centers play a role in this effort.”
“They provide preventative and primary health care to individuals and families who may otherwise not have access to these services; serving patients regardless of income, insurance or immigration status.” Neira added.
Members of the public were able to receive free COVID-19 testing and vaccines as well as other testing and screenings. These vaccines and screenings were administered by OHI. Anyone six months and above was eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination.
Mayor Hill, a former dentist, thanked health care providers.
“Your compensation could probably be higher in the private sector but it shows your commitment to your patients and for that I want to thank you. I also want to recognize OHI’s 20 years of providing high quality health care for the residents of Toms River, Ocean and Monmouth counties. OHI provides a wide range of services to our most vulnerable residents.”
