Pillar Health and Kenosha Community Health Center to Celebrate National Health Center Week 2023

KENOSHA, WI — Pillar Health and Kenosha Community Health Center (KCHC) proudly announce their participation in National Health Center Week 2023, a nationwide celebration of community health centers’ vital role in delivering preventive and primary care services to millions of Americans. This year’s event will take place from August 6th to August 12th, highlighting the commitment of health centers in providing affordable, quality healthcare to underserved communities. The Health Center has several convenient locations in Kenosha, including: 6226 14th Avenue, 4536 22nd Avenue, 4006 Washington Road, Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha, and Silver Lake.

Health centers play a crucial role in serving over 30 million people across the country, acting as the backbone of the nation’s primary care system. Pillar Health and KCHC provide high-quality, affordable services to over 15,000 residents from the tri-county area of Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth Counties. They deliver care in a unique model integrating medical, dental, and behavioral health care services tailored to individual needs. Addressing social needs that affect health is an important part of care delivered by the health center. These can include poverty, homelessness, substance use, mental illness, access to nutritious food, and unemployment.

The impact of Community Health Centers is profound, with an annual cost savings of $24 billion, reducing the rate of chronic diseases, and stimulating local economies. They are critical partners in healthcare systems, collaborating with hospitals, local and state governments, social, health, and business organizations to improve health outcomes for medically vulnerable individuals and families.

Pillar Health and Kenosha Community Health Center are influencers in the community. Team members are embedded in various community events to encourage healthy behaviors, prevention, and management of chronic health conditions. You have probably seen them providing health education or screenings at the Kenosha Expo, the Kenosha YMCA Family Fun Day, and National Night Out. They also work in area churches, residential centers, and are engaged with area businesses.

Access to basic care remains a challenge for over 100 million people in the United States, particularly those residing in remote and underserved communities where providers are scarce. National Health Center Week aims to raise awareness of this issue and rally support for health centers nationwide. Consistent with national trends, access to affordable care and mental health services has been identified in community needs assessments in our tri-county area. Pillar Health and KCHC have committed to addressing these care gaps. Most recently, they announced the expansion of mental health and pediatric services by board- certified providers to double local care access for the medical and mental health needs of both families and children.

Pillar Health and Kenosha Community Health Center encourage the public to show their support during National Health Center Week by advocating for and supporting health centers in their respective communities. With one in 11 Americans being health center patients, these centers serve a significant portion of the population, including 20% uninsured, 59% publicly insured, 90% low-income, and 65% belonging to racial and/or ethnic minority groups.

The outreach of health centers extends to various underserved groups, with care provided to 1 in 5 uninsured Americans, 1 in 3 Americans living in poverty, and 1 in 5 rural Americans. By addressing the social determinants of health and promoting health equity, health centers serve as crucial drivers in improving the well-being of underserved communities.

Health centers are also at the forefront during public health crises, collaborating with healthcare payers, systems, the private sector, and all levels of government to respond to emergencies like pandemics, natural disasters, the opioid crisis, and maternal mortality. They rapidly adopted telehealth during events like the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring patients received necessary services while breaking down barriers to care.

Pillar Health and Kenosha Community Health Center invite everyone to join in celebrating National Health Center Week 2023 and acknowledging the indispensable contributions of health centers in providing accessible, comprehensive healthcare to communities nationwide. Please call 262-656-0044 to schedule an appointment or to inquire about our services.

About Pillar Health and Kenosha Community Health Center: Pillar Health and Kenosha Community Health Center are dedicated to providing affordable, quality healthcare services to individuals and families in Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth Counties. They strive to address the underlying factors that affect health and are dedicated to innovation in healthcare. By collaborating with various stakeholders, they work towards improving health outcomes for medically vulnerable individuals and promoting health equity in their communities.