Mariposa Community Health Center Celebrates National Health Center Week

National Campaign Celebrates America’s Health Care Heroes

Mariposa held an event on Thursday, August 16 to mark National Health Center Week 2018.  The event is part of a national campaign during the week of August 12th-18h to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s Health Centers and the dedicated staff who bring health care to the communities they serve.

This year, the theme and focus of National Health Center Week is “Celebrating America’s Health Care Heroes”.  “Mariposa is the home to over 300 outstanding Health Care Heroes that work tirelessly to improve the health of our communities.  National Health Center Week gives us the opportunity to celebrate the role community health centers play in caring for our communities nationally and locally”, said Ed Sicurello, CEO.  On Thursday, August 16th, an evening event was held in the Sierra Building to recognize and honor seven employees “Health Care Heroes” that embody Mariposa’s Cultural Beliefs.

Get er Done:  Gerardo “Gerry” Leon (Facilities Department)
Honor Self: Cecilia “Cecy” Mendez (Community Health Services Department)
Inspire Growth: Yvonne Padilla (Accounting Department)
Patient First: Annahy Alvarez (Customer Service Department)
Maximize Outcomes: Swati Patel, DDS (Dental Department)
Own It: JP Gonzalez (Pharmacy)
Win Together: Jennifer Martinez (Family Medicine Department)

Mr. Sicurello additionally recognized Mariposa’s Board of Directors, and particularly, Ms. Claudia Proto, who has committed 13 years of service and dedication to the Board, in addition to being a strong advocate for Mariposa and the community. Although unable to attend, Dr. Tad Pfister was recognized for his vision to establish Mariposa in 1979 by submitting the initial application that resulted in Mariposa’s funding in 1980.

Mariposa is pleased to recognize these 2018 Health Care Heroes!

Special thanks to Senator Andrea Dalessandro, Representative Rosanna Gabaldon and Representative Daniel Hernandez, Jr. for their attendance at this special event!

Mariposa is part of a nationwide network of health centers that now serve more than 28 million patients according to new federal data.  Health centers have compiled a significant record of success that includes:

  • Producing $24 billion in annual health system savings;
  • Reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and unnecessary visits to the emergency room;
  • Treating patients for a fraction of the average cost of one emergency room visit;
  • Maintaining patient satisfaction levels of nearly 100 percent;
  • Serving more than one in six Medicaid beneficiaries for less than two percent of the national Medicaid budget;
  • Lowering the cost of children’s primary care by approximately 35 percent

The heroes who work at health centers and help make affordable health care possible for people in need are at the center of this year’s NHCW.  More than 220,000 people work at health centers in positions that include clinicians, nurses, medical assistants, pharmacists, social workers, dentists and dental hygienists, behavioral health specialists, facilities staff, and much more.  Working together, these health care heroes produce innovative solutions to the most pressing health care issues in their communities. It is their work that has helped reduce health care costs and reduce chronic disease, generating a record of success and along with it a long tradition of bipartisan support in Congress.

To learn more about National Health Center Week please visit: www.healthcenterweek.org.

You can also follow the conversation using #NHCW18 on Twitter.

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