PRESS RELEASE

Plainfield Health Center Plays Key Role in Asthma II Collaborative
Pilot Launched at The Healthy Place at Washington School

For Immediate Release: Monday, October 1, 2001-PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY- The Plainfield Health Center, one of twelve Federally Qualified Health Centers in New Jersey, dedicated to providing cost effective primary health care services for the residents of Plainfield and surrounding communities, announced today its participation in the second National Asthma Collaborative. The National Asthma Collaborative aims to use the National Institute of Health's guidelines to redesign care for asthmatic children.

This project is part of an initiative by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Health Resources Services Administration and the Bureau of Primary Health Care. Its goal is to eliminate the health disparities in our nation and in ensure access to quality primary care for racial and ethnic minorities and for underserved populations.

"The Plainfield Health Center team, led by Dr. Phyllis Anderson-Wright, will redesign care for a pilot population of asthmatic children ages five through twelve at Washington School, home of The Healthy Place, a school based satellite of the Plainfield Health Center," said Dr. Susan Walsh, Chief Medical Officer. "After successful completion of the pilot, our goal is to have the redesigned health care system become part of asthmatic care for all Plainfield Health Center patients."

As part of the program, the team will provide patient education, including self-management goals and asthma action plans. The team plans to involve community service organizations, the Board of Education, faith based initiatives, and pharmaceutical companies.

About The Plainfield Health Center

The Plainfield Health Center, incorporated as the Plainfield Neighborhood Health Services Corporation, was born in 1969 under the auspices of the 1960's Model Cities Neighborhood Program. Led by a dedicated group of community activists, the Center was initially created to provide accessible health care to the residents of the West End of Plainfield.

Since then, the Center has grown, added more services, increased the number of specialties of professional health staff, and expanded its reach to the entire City of Plainfield and neighboring communities. Today, the Plainfield Health Center serves more than 16,000 patients annually. Its total care program provides adult medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, adolescent medicine, school based services, dentistry and ancillary support services.

copyright © PHC 2002