Health Dept. Celebrates Local Centers

The Rhode Island Department of Health recently announced that the week of August 7-13 marked 46 years that community health centers — including Tri-Town Community Action Agency in Johnston — have been serving patients in Rhode Island.

In Rhode Island, 27 community health center sites serve more than 120,000 Rhode Islanderseach  year and provide more than 500,000 visits to patients who are uninsured or have limited medical resources, the health department stated in a press release.

“Community health centers are a critical piece of the primary care network in this state,” said Director of Health Michael Fine, MD, in the statement. “Every day, the staff work to provide quality health care and to reduce health disparities that affect racial and ethnic minority groups, the poor and the uninsured. As healthcare continues to move towards a primary-care centered model, community health centers will undoubtedly expand their role in the healthcare system.”

Health centers were established in 1965 by the Office of Economic Opportunity as a component of President Johnson’s War on Poverty.

For more information on community health centers or to find locations around the state, visit the Health Department's website, or call HEALTH’s Information Line at 222-5960/RI Relay 711, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.