For many of us this time of year marks the beginning of a new school year and an “end” to summer; however, that’s not all. Each August, Community Health Centers are recognized nationally for the role they serve, and New Horizon Family Health Services celebrated in style with a whole week of activities including an open house, tours, a health fair, and a community back-to-school event. Jimmy Wooten, Public Affairs, Marketing and Development Associate, took me on a tour and shared some interesting facts with me about health centers like New Horizon. Health centers started 50 years ago as a pilot project during President Johnson’s War on Poverty. Since their beginnings, they have compiled a significant record of success that includes the following:

• Reducing income and ethnic health disparities nationwide
• Reducing infant mortality rates
• Producing $24 billion in annual health system savings
• Reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and visits to the ER
• Maintaining patient satisfaction levels of nearly 100%

“Evidence shows patients choose health centers because they are convenient, affordable, and offer a range of services from a team of caring professionals.” Health centers offer a wide spectrum of cost-effective services including medical, dental, pharmacy and other services for the entire family.  According to Wooten, “New Horizon Family Health Services serves approximately 20,000 patients in Greenville, Greer, and Travelers Rest. We operate four medical locations (two in Greenville ,one in Greer, and one in Travelers Rest) as well as a dental facility and a 40-foot mobile medical unit that covers a 13-County area of the Upstate for individuals that are homeless.” New Horizon Family Health Services truly cares about serving the healthcare needs of the Upstate, and their new facility at 975 Faris Road was clearly built with the needs of its patients and staff in mind. There is a Greenlink bus stop located out front for patients who rely on public transportation. The facility is full of natural light, bright colors, and cheerful murals marking different areas. There are dozens of confidential patient rooms, check-in stations, and meeting spaces for the staff. The pharmacy even has special floors to accommodate the pharmacists and techs that stay on their feet for hours at a time. New Horizon Family Health Services and health centers nationwide deserve to be celebrated, so next August remember to celebrate them (in addition to getting the kids prepared for school). I appreciate the time Jimmy Wooten took to show me around and educate me on the important role health centers play in communities across the nation. What important work are you doing in the community? Share with us – we want to be there to celebrate your successes and offer support along the way! The vision of the Chamber is to continually improve the quality of life in our community by inspiring and facilitating business success.  When our Investors succeed, the community succeeds. Contact me to share your good news or invite me to see the behind-the-scenes effort!