The Voice of Southwest Louisiana August 2017 Issue

SWLA health & wellness
National America's
Health Center Week
Contributed Article
SWLA Center for Health Services hosts Annual
Health Fairs & Healthy Community Neighborhood
Walks as part of National Campaign Celebrating
America’s Health Centers’ Week
August – SWLA Center for Health
Services will host health fairs and
a community walk at all four of its
Southwest Louisiana sites. SWLA Center
for Health Services has been providing
comprehensive primary health care
services to southwest Louisiana residents
for over 35 years.
Although, National Health Centers
week is set for August 13-19, 2017,
SWLA will kick-off its celebration
early:
Healthy Community Neighborhood
Walks and health fairs registration
begins at 7:30 a.m.
Doors open at 8:00 a.m. for each
event.
Saturday, August 5 2017, Crowley,
Oberlin and Lafayette Louisiana.
Saturday, August 12, 2017, Lake
Charles.
The theme for the annual health fairs is
“Know Your Numbers”. Health screenings
including: blood pressure checks,
glucose testing, BMI, weight, dental
screenings for children and adults, vision,
and hearing testing and a seminar on
diabetic education will be just some of
the highlights at this year’s health fairs.
In addition to the health screenings, Kids
will also enjoy waterslides, fun jumps and
sno-cones. Healthy snacks and a healthy
lunch will be provided and students
22
completing screenings will receive
backpacks and back to school supplies
while they last.
Vendors from various organizations
in each community that supports
and partners with SWLA Center for
Health services will be in attendance
at the health fairs offering additional
information on valuable services they
provide as well.
One of the bright spots in America’s
health care system, Community Health
Centers have been in existence for over
50 years and have compiled a significant
record of success by:
• Reducing income and ethnic
health disparities nationwide,
even in the poorest and most
challenged communities
• Producing $24 billion in annual
health system savings
• Reducing unnecessary
hospitalizations and
unnecessary visits to the ER
• Generating a system of
preventive medicine that
patients use regularly to stay
healthy, thus saving lives.
Health centers serve more than 26 million
people nationwide, and are increasingly
becoming the trusted provider of
choice for many families, whether they
are insured or not. Evidence shows
patients choose health centers because
they are convenient, affordable, and
offer a range of services from a team of
caring professionals. Studies also show
the quality of care at a health center is
as good as or even better than private
practices.
“Every day in our waiting rooms I
witness the value of having a patientcentered
health care home,” said Tommie
Anderson, CEO. “Our patients not only
get the care they need under one roof,
but they are treated as individuals, with
dignity and respect. This is what health
care should be and what we celebrate
during National Health Center Week.
We provide a range of services onsite for
children and adults – family medicine,
pediatrics, OB/GYN, pharmacy, dentistry,
WIC, lab, free pregnancy testing, KidMed,
Certified Medicaid Application Center,
Certified Medicare Counselors, Affordable
Care Act Application Counselors, Fitness
Center and even mental health services”.
This year, during National Health Center’s
Week, SWLA Center for Health Services
will host “A Community Conversation”
in partnership with LPCA (Louisiana
Primary Care Association). “A Community
Conversation” is all about engaging,
educating and empowering the
communities we serve to advocate the
need to retain quality and affordable
healthcare.
Each of our four sites will welcome
local elected officials and the local
community to participate in an important
August 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 5 • Number 1