Communities nationwide will celebrate National Health Center Week 2024 Aug. 4–10. Elected officials will join in recognizing the critical work of the nation’s Community Health Centers to keep our communities healthy and safe.
Health centers provide integrated preventive and primary care services to 31.5 million people (about twice the population of New York). They are the first to respond with wraparound care during disasters and health emergencies. The patient-directed model of care is tailored to the unique needs of each community. Together, we are the backbone of the nation’s primary care system. Health centers save the U.S. healthcare system money by reducing the rate of chronic diseases and costly hospital visits.
PureView Health Center, a federally qualified health center, offers team-based, quality, patient-centered care for everyone. We provide primary care services such as regular check-ups, immunizations, family medicine, chronic disease prevention and management, and referrals to specialists. We also offer lifestyle management programs, dental care, and behavioral health services, including child and adolescent therapy. Our pharmacy has low prices and little to no wait time. PureView’s case management services provide crisis intervention and help people navigate the complexities of health insurance as well as food vouchers, shelter and emergency services.
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Health centers are not just healers; we are innovators who look beyond medical charts to not only prevent illness but also address the factors that may cause poor health, such as poverty, homelessness, substance use, mental illness, access to nutritious food, and unemployment. At PureView, we offer free healthcare to the unhoused people in our community, as well as resources to find food, shelter, and other necessities. To address substance use, we offer specialized counseling as well as access to free Narcan, drug deactivation kits, and fentanyl test strips through all our locations as well as the mobile clinic.
We are a critical part of the U.S. healthcare system. We collaborate with hospitals, local and state governments, and social, health, and business organizations to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. For nearly 60 years, health centers have been dedicated to making quality and affordable healthcare available to everyone in their communities, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. For example, the sliding fee scale at PureView allows us to provide affordable healthcare to those with financial barriers.
The health center mission is crucial today because access to basic care remains a challenge to over 100 million people across the country. Many people live in remote areas and communities with a shortage of providers, and, in many cases, the nearest doctor or hospital can be as far as a 50-mile drive from another county. This is an especially prevalent issue in Montana communities. PureView’s multiple locations and mobile clinic represent a significant step towards overcoming this barrier. For instance, we operate a clinic in Lincoln, a town of just under 1,000 people.
Show your commitment during National Health Center Week by supporting PureView Health Center. We will be there when you need us.
PureView Health Center, Helena.