A representative of the campaign recently visited Yakima Neighborhood Health Services and judged it to be one of the seven top programs among 600 community clinics across America. YNHS has garnered nation-wide acclaim for the way in which it delivers primary health care to the Yakima Valley's underserved and vulnerable residents.
"Word
is out...Neighborhood Health is doing something different and creative.
They should be proud that it doesn't take government to reach out and
improve the health conditions of children...first generation immigrants...and
others. Patients receive quality health care."
That assessment comes from Zettie Page, MD, Ph.D., the MODELS
THAT WORK site reviewer who visited Neighborhood Health earlier this
month. Dr. Page, the president and CEO of Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Health
Services, spent three days at the clinic's Yakima and Sunnyside locations.
He learned first-hand about their outcomes, accomplishments and the creative
approaches that increase primary care access and create comprehensive
systems of care. Dr. Page also observed YNHS's work in forming broad public/private
partnerships, integrating primary care, prevention and public health,
and improving health status of underserved and vulnerable populations.
Neighborhood Health - or "the Clinic on 8th street" as it's long been known to thousands of patients - has been a community fixture since 1975. The MODELS THAT WORK campaign identifies and promotes the replication of a select group of innovative community-based
models
like Neighborhood Health's for the delivery of primary health care to
children and adults in need. Annually, the MODELS THAT WORK competition
is led by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in collaboration
with the nation's most prestigious health-related foundations, corporations,
associations and non-profit organizations.
"Neighborhood Health has been identified as an outstanding model for communities across the country," Dr. Page said.
Yakima Neighborhood Health Services now sets the standard for other organizations and communities that are interested in increasing access to care and eliminating disparities in health status for the millions of America's neediest citizens. "We expect that we will have many visitors from throughout the U.S. in coming months and years, " said CEO Anita Monoian " and we will be asked to write and speak, conduct site visits and provide other opportunities for health care leaders from across our country to learn from our best practices."
