Aug. 10. 2021
MARSHFIELD – Family Health Center of Marshfield, Inc., a member of Marshfield Clinic Health System, recognizes National Health Center Week Aug. 8-14 to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America's health centers over the past five decades.
Community Health Centers serve as the beacon of strength, service, and care in their communities. In moments of pain and loss, they offer support and love. In moments of triumph, they offer hope and a vision for the future.
Family Health Center of Marshfield (FHC), a federally funded community health center, has provided access to high quality health care services for the underserved and to enhance the health of our communities since 1974. FHC provides access for low-income individuals and families to health care, general dentistry and oral surgery, substance abuse services.
“The FHC board and leadership have an authentic commitment to living its mission to ensure that everyone has access to high quality care, and this trickles down throughout the organization," said Greg Nycz, FHC executive director. “We are trying to change health care through accessible, affordable, innovative and compassionate care."
FHC supports community members in several ways:
- General dentistry at 10 locations: Black River Falls, Chippewa Falls, Ladysmith, Marshfield, Medford, Menomonie, Neillsville, Park Falls, Rhinelander and Rice Lake. Our Chippew a Falls and Rhinelander dental centers offer oral surgery services.
- Alcohol and drug recovery centers in Ladysmith, Marshfield and Minocqua.
- A structured, insurance-like program that can help with health care services at other medical locations. We partner with doctors and other providers to deliver health care services through the Family Health Center Program. Enrolled members who live in all or part of 14 counties in central, northern and western Wisconsin pay a monthly program fee based on income and family size for doctor visits, eye exams, medication and other services.
- Other services including: assistance with obtaining health care coverage, case management services to help patients manage their healthcare better, pharmacy services including access to prescription medications and one-on-one medication therapy management, and community based alcohol and drug use prevention activities.
This year, National Health Center Week honors those front line providers, staff, and beloved patients who lost their lives during the (ongoing) COVID-19 pandemic. From the very beginning of the crisis, Community Health Centers began finding innovative ways to provide preventative and primary care to their patients.
FHC team members truly cherish the role they serve helping people every day:
“Nothing is more rewarding than when you hear the sigh of relief, and sometimes tears, when folks find out they now have health insurance. I love serving the patients we encounter knowing we are making a difference in their lives."
“Seeing how amazing recovery is for people has been extraordinarily satisfying. Being able to identify and use the expertise of those with lived experience is welcomed and seen as a valuable asset. Every person has a story and they deserve to have the chance to share it."
“We are smile makers! When we can help a person go from not wanting to smile to wanting to do nothing but smile and show everyone their brand new teeth, there is nothing better."
To learn more visit National Health Center Week at https://healthcenterweek.org/ or Family Health Center of Marshfield at https://www.marshfieldclinic.org/community-resources/family-health-center.
