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Bronx Community Health Center Goes "Blue" for National Health Center Week

-- Screenings and Health Education activities showcase community health centers

BRONX, N.Y., Aug. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Community health centers play a pivotal role in providing primary and specialty care to millions of people throughout the nation; their sites provide access to health care to underserved communities. In celebration of this year's National Health Center Week (August 7-13) Urban Health Plan, will provide a number of activities to showcase its services and for the second year in a row will release its Blue Glove 2011 video-- an advocacy project to inform stakeholders, media and the community about the important role played by community health centers. The four-minute video, which contains statistics and information about the community health centers, combines music with lighthearted dance routines performed by the organization's doctors, nurses, medical assistants, patients, board of directors, and UHP's President and CEO. Participants wear blue surgical gloves as a sign of support for community health centers. The video, "Crazy Little Thing Called Health" is set to the tune of "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen. The project was inspired by several "Pink Glove Dance" videos promoting breast cancer awareness.

National Health Center Week highlights the role of community health centers as "health care homes," providing primary health care and a range of services for over 20 million uninsured and medically underserved people nationwide.

WHAT: UHP Blue Glove 2011 videoWHO: Urban Health Plan Watch the video on YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0WWBcB6r2U

Locally, Urban Health Plan celebrates the week with health screenings and health education activities at all satellite health centers in the South Bronx and Corona, Queens. For more details, please contact Nicole Castro, Development Associate 347-224-9660.

UHP National Health Center Week 2011 activities:Plaza del Castillo Health CenterWednesday, August 109 am - 1 pm 1515 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, New York

Bella Vista Health CenterWednesday, August 109 am - 1 pm 890 Hunts Point Avenue, Bronx, New York

El Nuevo San Juan Health CenterHealth Fair, Thursday August 11 10 am - 4 pm1065 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, New York

Plaza del Sol Family Health CenterHealth Fair, Friday, August 1210 am -3 pm 37-16 108 Street, Corona, New York

About Urban Health Plan:

Urban Health Plan (UHP) is a network of federally qualified community health centers based in the South Bronx and Queens. Its mission is to improve the health status of underserved communities. In 2010, UHP served over 43,000 patients through 223,000 patient visits at four clinic sites, five school-based clinics, and four off-sites. It has served the Hunts Point, Mott Haven and other surrounding communities of the Bronx since 1974.

About Community Health Centers: 1,250 community health centers operate 8,000 service delivery sites, serving 20 million patients nationally

    --  Nearly 40% of health center patients have no health insurance. One third
        of health center patients are children. (Healthcare.gov)
    --  Community Health Centers provide access to preventive services and
        effective management of chronic conditions and, as a result, reduce the
        use of costly emergency room visits and hospital (re)admissions. In
        2009, health centers saved approximately $24 billion in health care
        costs (Geiger-Gibson RCHN Community Health Foundation Research
        Collaborative)
    --  On top of generating significant savings to payers, health centers
        generated $20 billion in economic activity for low income communities
        last year by providing employment opportunities and indirectly
        purchasing goods from other local businesses. (National Association of
        Community Health Centers)

Contact: Nicole CastroUHP Development Associate 347-224-9660

SOURCE Urban Health Plan, Inc.