North Star Health is celebrating National Health Center Week (NHCW) 2024, taking place August 4-10. The annual event highlights the essential role Community Health Centers play in improving public health and advancing health equity. Health centers represent the nation’s largest primary care network, serving 31.5 million patients nationwide.

This year’s NHCW celebration, launched by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), focuses on “Powering Communities Through Caring Connections.” The theme perfectly compliments North Star’s mission of connecting with and caring for the community so all may enjoy health and wellness.

North Star Health operates 14 health centers and prioritizes making high-quality, affordable care available to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status. These health centers save lives and work to address our region’s most pressing public health challenges. In the United States, health centers like North Star are powered by a workforce of nearly 300,000 dedicated professionals who reach beyond the walls of the exam room to not only prevent illness but also address the social drivers that may cause it – effects of climate change, homelessness, substance use disorders, food insecurity, and behavioral health.

The North Star Health system serves an average of 26,000+ patients each year.

“We like to use National Health Center Week as a time to reflect on and celebrate the contributions our providers, staff, and community partners make to impact the health and wellness of our communities,” said Joshua Dufresne, MBA, CEO of North Star Health, “Despite the complex health care landscape, our commitment to providing essential care and support never waivers. This week reminds us of the resilience and dedication needed to ensure health and wellness for all, even in the toughest times.”

The patients at North Star Health are diverse:

  • 38% of patients are uninsured or on Medicaid
  • 80% earn at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines, which is annual income of $62,400 or less for a family of four
  • 19% of patients are children under the age of 18
  • About 1000 patients each year are veterans

North Star Health extends a huge thank you to our generous sponsors who helped make these celebrations possible:  CaptureRx, Claremont Savings Bank, Exact Sciences, and UnitedHealth Group.

Patients visiting any North Star Health location between August 4 and 10 will receive a token of appreciation from the providers and staff. Please note that all North Star Health locations will close at 12:30 PM on Friday, August 9 for a staff appreciation luncheon.

To learn more about the mission and accomplishments of health centers in the United States, visit www.nachc.org. You can learn more about NHCW and view a listing of events at www.healthcenterweek.org.