National Health Center Week will take place on August 4-10, 2019 as a celebration of the nation’s 1400 Community Health Centers (CHCs) located across the United States.   Health centers serve 28 million patients – a number that continues to grow along with the demand for affordable primary care.
 
Albany Area Primary Health Care (AAPHC) is one of the largest medical groups in Southwest Georgia and the region’s largest Community Health Center. In 2018, AAPHC served over 41,311 patients across nine counties in Southwest Georgia.
 
The requirements for a CHC include:

·       Be located in a federally designated medically under-served area (MUA) or serve medically under-served populations (MUP),

·       Provide comprehensive primary care,

·       Adjust charges for health services on a sliding fee schedule according to patient income,

·       Be governed by a community board of which a majority of members are patients at the CHC.
 
In Southwest Georgia, AAPHC offers local residents access to high quality and affordable primary care, as well as obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, dentistry, podiatry, vision care, behavioral health and pharmacy services.   
 
“As a Community Health Center, we care for every community member, regardless of one’s ability to pay or lack of insurance,” says Shelley Spires, Chief Executive Officer for AAPHC. “Our mission is to deliver quality health care to everyone.”
 
During National Health Center Week, a host of events are scheduled across the country including health fairs, Legislative Breakfasts, visits by Members of Congress and state officials, press conferences, patient appreciation events, free health screenings and more.    It’s a great way to raise awareness on the amazing work that Physicians, Providers and health center staff are providing each and every day in their regions of the United States.
 
“AAPHC’s Legislative Breakfast will take place on Tuesday, August 6, at the Flint Riverquarium in Albany, Georgia” says Spires. “This is our Eighth Annual Legislative Breakfast, which invites our Legislators and key community members to learn about the impact that CHCs and AAPHC make across the country and within our communities.”
 
“AAPHC is also celebrating our 40th anniversary of caring for our patients across Southwest Georgia so this Legislative Breakfast is even more special,” says Spires. “We’ll be looking back at how much we’ve grown, but also ahead to the future to show where we’re headed as we continue to care for our patients and their families.”
 
Mark your calendars for National Health Center Week 2019, August 4th-10th, and stay tuned for additional news as AAPHC celebrates being part of the Community Health Center Network and ensuring every community member has access to high quality health care.