Norwalk Community Health Center in Top 10% of Health Centers Nationwide
2022 HRSA Gold Quality Leader
[Norwalk, CT, October 6, 2022] The US Department of Health and Social Services has recognized Norwalk Community Health Center, Inc. (NCHC) among the top 10% of health centers nationally for clinical quality of care in 2022. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), NCHC, a nonprofit 501(c)3 healthcare provider, is one of only 140 Health Centers out of more than 1400 sites to achieve this gold standard milestone. The community health care provider also received awards for two newly added HRSA quality milestone categories: gold level patient health outcomes for Maternal and Child Health and quality recognition for Health Information Technology. The health center was also recognized again in 2022 by the National Committee on Quality Assurance as a patient centered medical home. Norwalk Community Health Center provides a continuum of patient-focused medical, dental, and wellness services for residents of greater Norwalk and Fairfield County. Nobody who needs our services is turned away because of status or ability to pay.
Gold level awardees are judged on quality clinical measurements that indicate how well a Health Center does in screening, intervention, and treatment of patients for hypertension, diabetes, asthma, HIV, heart attack/stroke, and the number of patients screened for cervical cancer, weight, tobacco use and cessation, colorectal cancer, and depression. Maternal and Child Health is measured by birth weight, early entry into prenatal care, weight assessment and counseling for nutrition and physical activity, full immunization by age 2, and regular wellness visits. The award for Advancing Health Information Technology recognizes adoption of an Electronic Health Record System, offering telehealth, exchanging clinical information electronically with key providers health care settings, engaging patients through health IT, and collecting data on patient social risk factors.
“The HRSA Gold Seal informs us our patient-centric service delivery model approach is succeeding. More importantly, it assures our community, and our patients, that they can expect the highest level of care at Norwalk Community Health Center,” said Norwalk Community Health Center’s CEO Kenneth Waller. “Also earning recognition for Maternal and Child Health and Advancing Health Information Technology, two new quality measures awarded for the first time in 2022 by HRSA, is a tribute to our remarkable associates.”
Norwalk Community Health Center has been providing compassionate healthcare and wellness programs to its patients, from newborn to seniors, in Fairfield County since 1999, regardless of ability to pay. Almost 13,000 patients each year entrust their pediatric, adult, dental, women’s and behavioral healthcare to NCHC at its 120 Connecticut Avenue location, at its satellite health center at the Smilow Life Center, and aboard its Medical Mobile Unit. NCHC also offers free wellness programs to its patients, health fairs and screenings in the community, hosts a Farmer’s Market, and is committed to leading patients, families, and the community to achievement of its best health. Visit https://norwalkchc.org to learn more about Norwalk Community Health Center or email info@norwalkchc.org .
For more than 50 years, health centers have delivered affordable, accessible, cost-effective, and quality primary health care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. Health centers advance a model of coordinated, comprehensive, and patient-centered care, integrating a wide range of medical, dental, mental health, substance use disorder, and patient support services. Today, more than 1,400 health centers operate approximately 12,000 service delivery sites that provide primary health care in every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Pacific Basin. Visit www.hrsa.gov to learn more.
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Contact Betty Cordellos – (203) 851-1018 or c (203) 820-4691
[JPG image:]-r Norwalk Community Health Center Associates: Debbie Bailey, RN, Director of Quality Improvement; Rebecca Kaplan, FNP, Director of Clinical Operations and Healthcare Innovation; Kenneth Waller, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer; Manikandan Subramaniyan, Data Analyst; Djana Karp, OB/GYN, MBA, Chief Medical Officer