What if you, your child, or a family member needed to see a doctor or a dentist and did not have enough money or any money? Since 2009, the Center for Health Education, Medicine and Dentistry (CHEMED), a federally qualified health center (FQHC), 1771 Madison Avenue, Lakewood, New Jersey, has provided comprehensive health, medical services, and dental services available to everyone – private patients along with uninsured and underinsured. Uninsured patients are seen on a sliding-fee scale, based on an ability to pay.
Thanks to the efforts of Congressman Chris Smith, New Jerseys 4th District, CHEMED celebrated its 10th Anniversary this December. At the event Congressman Smith was honored for his pivotal role in securing FQHC designation, and for his leadership and support of health care services to underserved communities in New Jersey.
CHEMEDs mission is to increase access to comprehensive primary and preventative health care and to improve the health status of underserved and vulnerable populations through outreach, disease prevention, and patient education activities.
Since its opening in 2009, more than 94,500 unique patients have been seen with a total of 1,160,833 visits. More than 10,000 children have visited the health center, and more than 32,000 dental unique patients have also been seen.
Last year CHEMED was recognized at the highest level as a Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) by the National Council on Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a model that puts patients in the forefront of care.
Dr. Dovid Friedman, CEO of CHEMED, who presented a PowerPoint showing the tremendous growth and breadth of services that CHEMED has achieved in the past decade, presented an award to Congressman Smith, thanking him for his commitment to CHEMED.
You know that famous line... if you build it they will come, Smith said. They've come because of the exceptional health care, preventative medicine you have provided as well as for helping people who are sick and disabled.
Senator Robert Singer and Lakewood Township Committeemen Albert Akerman, Michael D'Elia, Meir Lichtenstein, and Menashe Miller presented proclamations to Congressman Smith in honor of the occasion. Other attendees included Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy, Gail Kaufman of Freeholder Haines & rsquo; office, and representatives of the Lakewood Police Department and the NJPCA (New Jersey Primary Care Association).
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