PRESS RELEASE

Plainfield Health Center Celebrates World Asthma Day
Programs Scheduled at PHC, Cardinal Health Center and The Healthy Place

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, May 7, 2002-PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY- The Plainfield Health Center, one of thirteen Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in New Jersey, dedicated to providing cost effective primary health care services for the residents of Plainfield and surrounding communities, announced today the celebration of World Asthma Day, with programs scheduled at PHC and both school-based sites. All three events will include educational components on asthma and asthma management in an informative and fun setting.

Plainfield Health Center is one of twenty-one FQHCs, nationwide, participating in the National Asthma II Collaborative, using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's breakthrough series and the Chronic Care Model as a guideline to redesign care for asthmatic children. This collaborative has been part of an initiative by the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Health Resources Services Administration Bureau of Primary Health Care. "The goal is to eliminate the health disparities in our nation and to ensure access to quality primary care for racial and ethnic minorities, and for underserved populations," said Rudine Smith, PHC's COO, and senior leader of the collaborative. "The Plainfield Health Center program provides educational information on asthma to patients, and establishes self-management goals, which are monitored at each visit," said Smith. The program has been running at both Plainfield Health Center's school-based, satellite sites, and as of May 1st, has been incorporated into the Center's primary pediatric program under the direction of Dr. Basu, Chief of Pediatrics.

"This is Plainfield Health Center's second World Asthma Day program," said Julane Miller-Armbrister, PHC President and CEO. "After the enormous success that we have had with our enrolled pediatric asthma patients, we hope that continued education and outreach will encourage more children and their families to participate in this continuum of care for a very treatable condition. We believe that this program will enable patients to live symptom free, and lift restrictions on their everyday lives."

To learn more about World Asthma Day, to obtain additional information about Plainfield Health Center's asthma program, or to make an appointment, please call 908-753-6401, extension 117.

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 17,000 patients annually. Its total care program provides adult medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, adolescent medicine, school based services, dentistry and ancillary support services.

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