The Northwest Buffalo Community Health Care Center is now the Neighborhood Health Center. The new name and brand was unveiled at a press event with local and state elected officials as part of National Health Center Week, an initiative to raise awareness about how federally qualified health centers are delivering a unique approach that targets the health care needs of local communities while saving taxpayer dollars.
Among the elected officials attending the event were New York State Senators Mark Grisanti and Tim Kennedy and Buffalo Common Council members Joseph Golombek and the Reverend Darius Pridgen.
"Our new name and look truly reflect what Neighborhood Health Center is all about and that is a strong partnership of people, and community who work together to meet the unique and diverse health conditions of the people we serve," said Joanne Haefner, executive director of the Center.
The Neighborhood Health Center provided care to more than 11,000 patients with over 40,000 visits in 2010. The Center anticipates serving more patients in future years with a target of 20,000 patients by 2015. Haefner also states "We also want to assure our community and supporters we continue with our plans to expand farther into the West side later this year. Even with Tuesday's disappointing announcement from HHS on recipients of the New Access Point grants that completely left out the eight counties of Western New York out."
"The bottom line is that federally qualified health centers are a vital link to the health care continuum if we are to achieve our collective goals of a healthier community, a more affordable health system and most importantly a better quality of life for all citizens," Haefner concluded.
Bottom Photo: Common Council Member Joseph Golombek, Jr. joins Joanne Haefner, MS, FNP, executive director, Neighborhood Health Center to unveil the health center's new logo.
Confusion is in the offing with such a generic name.
I can just hear the Abbott & Costello-like conversation,
Nurse: "Where were you last seen?"
Patient: "At the Neighborhood Health Center."
Nurse: "Yes, but WHICH neighborhood health center?"
Patient: "THE Neighborhood Health Center."
And on and on it will go.
I've worked in health care - the more precise the better.
Keeping the "Northwest" of the old name at the front of the new name would have distinguished it. I'm glad it stayed open. Good luck.
Good morning Dagner -
You make a good point about the possibility for confusion. Neither of us were at the press conference (or were you?) so we are not sure exactly what was said. An important piece of information that did not make it into this article is that a system for nomenclature is, in fact, being put into place. The Neighborhood Health Center is the "umbrella" or over-arching name for the organization that runs several location of its center. Currently there are two locations - with a possibility of a third. When a visitor comes to the Lawn Avenue location, in Black Rock, they will see a sign that says Neighborhood Health Center / Northwest. When visiting the Hamburg location they will see Neighborhood Health Center / Southtowns, and so on. So the identity seen in this article represent the overall while - and will be seen on business papers, brochures (which clearly list the collection of locations).
It was felt by all involved that a connection to the "current" identity be maintained - thus the Northwest mention and some color and design cues in the logo.
I hope you get an opportunity to visit one of the location and see what a beautiful and positive addition to the community the Neighborhood Health Center is.