Community Health Centers, now in 60th year, serve 32 million people nationally
Oak Orchard Health started in 1973 and has expanded to several sites in WNY
By Karen Kinter, CEO of Oak Orchard Health
Provided photos: The Oak Orchard Community Health Center is shown under construction in 1991 in Albion.
ALBION – The National Association of Community Health Centers is celebrating 60 years of community health centers.
In 1989, they were designated as Federally Qualified Health Centers. They offer affordable primary healthcare across America. As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, we honor their extraordinary journey from humble beginnings to becoming the backbone of our nation’s largest primary care network.
Today, FQHCs operate over 16,000 locations nationwide, serving 32.5 million patients. In New York State, health centers serve over 2.4 million patients, including 685,532 children and 283,425 older adults.
Oak Orchard Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center, was founded in 1973 and has grown into an integrated health system serving 34,000 patients across eleven locations. We understand what makes our communities special. We’re culturally aware and work hard to meet the unique needs of everyone who lives and works in our community, including agricultural workers and individuals from diverse backgrounds, including all races and genders.
The History and Value of Community Health Centers
Community Health Centers (CHCs) originated in the 1960s as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty” and the civil rights movement, with the goal of providing healthcare to underserved communities. Key milestones include the establishment of the first two centers in 1965, the formalization of the “Federally Qualified Health Center” (FQHC) designation in 1989, and the inclusion of FQHCs in the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Today, FQHCs are a cornerstone of the US healthcare system, providing comprehensive primary and preventative care to millions, regardless of their ability to pay.
FQHCs serve approximately 10% of the U.S. population but account for roughly 1% of total annual healthcare spending in the United States. By keeping people healthy, primary care doesn’t just save lives – it saves money.
The History of Oak Orchard Health
This group celebrates the opening of the community health center in Albion.
The vision for Oak Orchard Health (OOH) came from Dr. James Perrin, a pediatrician at the University of Rochester. He wanted to create a community-controlled health center that could address all the unmet healthcare needs of the area.
The first Oak Orchard Community Health Center was located at the former McNall Furniture store, 52 N. Main St., in downtown Albion. The name Oak Orchard originated here, as Route 98 passed through Albion, which was part of the old Oak Orchard Trail that ran from Batavia to Point Breeze on the lake.
OOH soon outgrew its first facility, and since there was no large space available to rent in Albion, the Board’s Building committee looked for a site in Brockport. OOH relocated to the Booth Building at 80 West Avenue. The board felt that this location gave OOH a good quality image. Since there was still a demand for quality medical care in Albion, a satellite office remained there. Soon, an office would be built at the Arnold Gregory Hospital, which opened in the spring of 1976. OOH would lease this space until the hospital closed.
Within three years, this group of dedicated community members opened two health centers employing seven full-time doctors and their supporting staff. Its mission was and continues to be to deliver high-quality healthcare at an affordable cost to anyone in the community who needs it.
Funding of Health Centers Today
It is essential to the health of Oak Orchard Health and the nation that federal funding continue for health centers, ensuring people have access to affordable primary care. Today, Federally Qualified Health Centers, like Oak Orchard, serve 1 in 5 rural Americans.
