PRESS RELEASE

Plainfield Health Center and Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center
Sign Affiliation Agreement

For Immediate Release: Monday, March 25, 2002-PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY- The Plainfield Health Center, one of thirteen Federally Qualified Health Centers in New Jersey, dedicated to providing cost effective primary health care services for the residents of Plainfield and surrounding communities, has signed a ten year agreement continuing its affiliation with Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, part of the Solaris Health System, which extends and strengthens a relationship originally formed in 1988. The agreement reaffirms the commitments of both organizations to continue to collaborate towards the goal of providing outpatient primary care services and hospital services, as needed, to the greater Plainfield community.

Under the affiliation agreement, both parties agree to maintain one another as key hospital and primary care partners, participate on one another's boards and in joint planning, advocate for one another, and ensure an integrated, continuity of care system for patients and the community. The agreement also establishes a commitment made by Muhlenberg to support primary care programs at the Plainfield Health Center, and by the Plainfield Health Center to support Muhlenberg's residency training program.

"In order to address the changing environment in health care, and our collective ability to meet the needs of our communities in the most efficient and effective way, the Plainfield Health Center and Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center are again at the forefront of ensuring accessible and affordable health care services for our community, through collaboration, integration and commitment," said Laurell Johnson, Chairperson of the Board of the Plainfield Health Center. "I want to applaud those leaders from both organizations, who in 1988, had the foresight to forge this relationship. Together, we add value to each other's capabilities, and more importantly, to the community we serve," said Johnson.

Plainfield Mayor Al McWilliams was present for the affiliation signing. He acknowledged that both organizations are critical health care resources for the community and that this collaboration model is a partnership that maximizes synergies between community organizations to better serve our citizens.

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.

copyright © PHC 2002