Presbyterian Medical Services (PMS) – Artesia Family Health Center (AFHC) will celebrate National Health Center Week Wednesday, Aug. 16.
The public is invited to attend the family-friendly Open House, which will take place from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The theme of the event is “Women’s Health,” with mammograms and paps available by appointment. For those enjoying the “come-and-go” atmosphere, complimentary refreshments and facility tours are available.
National Health Center Week (NHCW) takes place nationwide Aug. 13-19, recognizing the importance of community health centers in providing affordable, high-quality, cost-effective health care services. Phillip S. Burch, mayor of the City of Artesia, recognized NHCW and the importance of Artesia Family Health Center last week with a proclamation issued at City Hall.
“National Health Center Week offers the opportunity to recognize the dedicated staff, board members, and advisors of AFHC, recognizing too its role as a small business and local employer,” the proclamation read.
Across the state, PMS operates 43 health centers in 32 community locations. In 2016, PMS provided 370,638 medical, dental and behavioral health visits to 71,892 New Mexicans. The personal per-capita income in New Mexico over the same period was $38,807. That is 22 percent lower than the national average, ranking the state 48th in the nation. In the same year, close to 15 percent of PMS health center consumers were uninsured.
Locally, AFHC served 3,972 patients in 2016, up from 3,258 the year prior. The Center recently added Allen Ayers, family nurse practitioner, and Tammy Sherrell, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, to its program, in an effort to expand services in response to community need.
