RELEASE: Fair Haven Receives National Quality Awards in Four Key Areas.
For the fifth year in a row, Fair Haven Community Health Care has been recognized nationally as a Health Center Quality Leader, placing it among the top 20% of the nation’s 1,400 health centers on clinical quality measures. This quality leadership award is presented annually by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) to acknowledge excellence among peers in providing health care.
As magnified by the pandemic, health equity and accessibility are also critical to ensuring good health outcomes for all. In addition to being a Health Center Quality Leader, FHCHC is recognized for its leadership as an Access Enhancer, a Health Disparities Reducer, and for Advancing Health Information Technology. FHCHC is the only health center in the state of Connecticut to receive all four of these coveted awards.
“We are very proud to be recognized for broadening access to care and reducing health disparities for our 28,000 patients. COVID has magnified the challenges minority groups face in seeking health care, not only in our state, but across the country,” said Dr. Suzanne Lagarde, CEO of FHCHC. “Here in New Haven, we know non-English speaking communities traditionally have greater trouble accessing regular health care, let alone navigating the COVID vaccine process. Throughout the pandemic, we have been deliberate and intentional in making sure COVID testing and vaccinations are especially accessible to the community we care for.”
In spring of 2021 while governing leaders across the country were puzzling about the low vaccination rates among people of color, FHCHC literally took to the streets to help battle COVID in their neighborhood. FHCHC is a proud partner in the Vaccinate Fair Haven effort (more here, here, and here), ensuring COVID vaccine access and education are available broadly to the Fair Haven community. Thanks to these efforts, nearly 70% of those receiving COVID vaccines at FHCHC are people of color. This represents a far higher nonwhite vaccination rate than the state has achieved as a whole. FHCHC continues to offer free walk-in COVID vaccines, Monday-Friday, 9:00am-4:30pm, with extended hours until 6:30pm on Tuesday and Thursday. FHCHC is also providing COVID testing Monday-Friday, 9am-noon. Both services are offered at our 374 Grand Avenue, New Haven, location at no charge to patients. Those without insurance are welcome.
Even as the pandemic persists, FHCHC continues to ensure everyone can access affordable, high quality health care, be it in person or via telehealth. To make an appointment, please call 203.777.7411.