Access Community Health Network, the largest network of community health centers in the nation, joined Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL-6th) Friday, July 6, to announce a $650,000 grant for a new health center in DuPage County.
The new health center, under the ACCESS network, will be called ACCESS @ Addison-Bensenville and will be located in that area. The announcement was made at ACCESS Martin T. Russo Family Health Center, 245 S. Gary Ave., Bloomingdale, IL
“With the continued need for quality, affordable health care around the city and suburbs, DuPage County is once again just the right area for a new facility, the ACCESS Addison-Bensenville Health Center,” said ACCESS Deputy Medical Officer Tariq Butt. “ACCESS is committed to providing services for those who need it, and we discovered that the need for affordable, culturally and linguistically comprehensive primary care is an ever growing concern.”
The federal funding will allow ACCESS to further address the racial and ethnic health disparities, particularly around maternal and child health; chronic disease and preventative health care.
ACCESS CEO Donna Thompson is excited to see the project’s plan come to fruition. “We are committed to continuing to work with DuPage County to tighten the safety net so that more people can find a health care home near them,” Thompson said.
During his 13 years in the Illinois General Assembly, Roskam devoted considerable energies to improving health care quality, access and affordability and now brings those priorities to his new role as Congressman.
“Today is a great day for the residents of DuPage County,” said Roskam. “Insuring accessible, quality heath care is of paramount importance. We must continue to ex
pand our area’s heath care system insuring that our friends, family and neighbors have access to the best technology, doctors and facilities to keep our community safe and healthy. Access Community Health Network is committed to improving the area’s heath care and I am proud to support this new health care facility.”
A new ACCESS DuPage County location is a welcome one, considering the impact that it will have on local residents securing affordable health care. The new facility also has the support of other health care providers in the area.
"The DuPage County Health Department is a strong believer in this partnership. We are excited to offer our support with the ultimate goal of reaching and serving people in need throughout DuPage County,” said Maureen McHugh, Executive Director, DuPage County Health Department.
It is projected that the new site will serve 4,500 new patients annually, the majority of whom are low income.
Access Community Health Network is comprised of 48 JCAHO accredited community health centers throughout Chicago and surrounding suburbs. It provides high quality, cost effective, safe, comprehensive primary and preventive health care to 200,000 individual patients annually, one-third of whom are uninsured. Visit the website at accesscommunityhealth.net.
For more information about this location or other ACCESS health centers or programs in your community, please call Elaine Hegwood Bowen, Media Coordinator, at 773.257.6599; email: bowen@accesscommunityhealth.net or call the toll free number at 1.866.88.ACCESS.