Press Release
Governor Gary Herbert issued a Declaration stating August 13 – 19, 2017 is Health Center Week in Utah. The week is part of a larger national campaign celebrating the work of Health Centers throughout the U.S. with the goal of raising awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s Health Centers over the course of more than five decades.
In Utah, 13 Health Center organizations serve over 147,000 Utahns annually at 54 sites from Cache Valley to the Four Corners area and St. George. These Health Centers focus on minimizing healthcare costs through providing high-quality primary and preventative care and treatment of the whole patient; including dental and mental health services, and connecting them to other community resources.
In addition to providing comprehensive, primary and preventive healthcare, Utah’s Health Centers are working with local and national partners to fight the rising tide of opioid addiction and overdose deaths in Utah and are an integral partner in finding effective and compassionate methods of treating the homeless in Utah. Because of their long record of success in innovation, managing health care costs, and reducing chronic disease, Health Centers locally and nationally have a proud tradition of bipartisan support in Congress.
Gov. Herbert states, “I’m proud of the work Health Centers do to serve vulnerable populations, particularly residents of rural communities who, without local Health Centers, might have to drive an hour or more to see a primary care physician. Health Centers do a fine job of providing high-quality care to Utah’s communities.”
“It has been my greatest pleasure to work for a health center for the past 18 years,” says Lori Wright, Family Healthcare CEO and Association for Utah Community Health (AUCH) Board Chair. “I’ve witnessed the life-changing effect doctors and their teams can make in a person’s life when the patient is at the center of their care. I’ve watched people who have uncontrolled diabetes find new energy and increased ability to provide for their families as they’ve learned how to manage their disease. Individuals who were embarrassed to smile due to the lack of oral health find a dentist who gives them back their smile. People who have experienced awful trauma find health and healing because mental health professionals work alongside medical professionals. Health Centers are all about team work and I am proud to be part of the Health Center team in Utah!”
There are Health Center Week celebrations throughout the state during the week. Please visit auch.org to learn more.
AUCH is a membership organization comprised of Utah’s 13 Health Center organizations and allied safety-net clinics.