Members of Affinity Health Center Facilities Committee toured the new facility site on Friday. Pictured (from left to right) Bryan Martin, Tammy Wells, Phil Keenan, and Suzie Wright.
Affinity Beam Signing Ceremony
The new Affinity Health Center celebrated a construction milestone with a beam signing ceremony. Staff and Board Members signed the last steel beams to top out the building. See more on our SmugMug page.
Affinity Expands Contraceptive Services
Women want options. After months of planning, we’re now able to provide more low maintenance birth control options to our patients. Our women’s health team at the Fort Mill satellite site had the honor of placing Affinity’s first IUDs and contraceptive implants this week. Congratulations to Fort Mill team members, Certified Nurse Midwife, Julie Blackman (right) and Medical Office Assistant, Jackie Brown (left) along with the hard work of many Affinity staff and community partners that helped make this happen. If you want to know more about these long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), ask about contraceptive options at your next appointment.
Welcome Dr. Jonathan Wilson
Affinity Health Center is pleased to welcome Dr. Jonathan Wilson. Dr. Wilson hails from Augusta, GA where as one of five rough and tumble boys there was frequently opportunities to practice emergency medicine. He attended Covenant College where he studied Economics and Community Development, which focused on whole person and dignifying poverty alleviation. After teaching school, working in the inner city, and participating in international medical trips he decided to embark on a career in medicine so went back to Augusta to attend the Medical College of Georgia. During medical school he was awarded a Fogarty Fulbright in Public Health and spent a year doing HIV research in South Africa. He recently finished his family medicine residency at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC and is board certified. He is passionate about seeing his patients thrive and get high quality care in our ever increasing complex, expensive, and exclusive healthcare system.
Affinity Provides Quality Care For Those Most In Need
Seventy percent of Affinity’s patients who had a visit in July were living at or below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). That’s a maximum of $12,060 per year for an individual’s income or $24,600 per year for a family of four. Ninety-three percent were living at or below 200% of the FPL. Affinity Health Center’s vision is for a healthy and vibrant community where all people have access to exceptional and comprehensive healthcare. Through our monthly tracking of our services and patients seen, we know we’re providing access to exceptional and comprehensive healthcare to those most in need. We’re proud of our commitment to caring for those most in need and hope that you will check our most recent statistics each month. You can find them broadcast on waiting room and exam room monitors and on our website at affinityhealthcenter.org/quality-care/
National Health Center Week at Affinity
August 13th-19th is National Health Center Week, an opportunity to celebrate the work of community health centers across our country to provide high quality, cost effective, and accessible health care to those most in need. Affinity Health Center provides comprehensive care for nearly 4,000 patients. 70% of Affinity patients live at or below poverty and 60% are uninsured. 29% of Affinity Health Center patients are homeless or unstably housed. Affinity will partner with Northside Recreation Center on August 15th from 3:30pm-5:30pm for a healthy communities event featuring more than 20 community partners including social service, healthcare, housing and other supportive agencies. We invite our neighbors to stop by and learn more about Affinity and other community services available for families while enjoying food and fellowship.
August 17th is Healthcare for the Homeless Day. Affinity will be visiting St. Mary’s Catholic Church to provide breakfast for people experiencing homelessness to share information about how to get healthcare.
August 18th is Consumer Board Member Day. Stop by our Main Site located at 500 Lakeshore Parkway, Rock Hill, SC 29730 between 9:00am-4:00pm to take a tour with one of our patient Board members.
Coloring Contest! Calling all artists under 14! Pick up a coloring sheet at Affinity or anyplace we’ll be in the community between now and August 16th and turn your masterpiece in us to win prizes. Judging will be on Friday, August 18th.
Join the conversation, use #NHCW17 on your social media posts about National Health Center Week events.
Celebrating America’s Health Centers: The Key to Healthier Communities
One in every fifteen people living in the United States depends on health center services. Health Centers deliver high quality, cost effective, accessible care while serving as critical economic engines helping to power local economies.
In addition to their long history as health care homes to millions, Health Centers are also proud to celebrate over 50 years of service and continue to be ranked among the highest quality and cost effective care providers in the nation. Health Centers provide their services to all people, regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status.Each year we celebrate the work and services Health Centers provide to special populations within their community on designated days during the week. This year is no different, but we have added focused themed days, that will allow for more opportunities to showcase the innovative services and programs at Health Centers.
Affinity’s Transition to FQHC Followed by TARGET Center
TARGET Center has been following Affinity Health Center’s transition from an AIDS Service Organization (ASO) to a Federally Qualified Community Health Center (FQHC). Advances in HIV care and treatment have made HIV a more manageable chronic health condition. To reflect this change, many ASOs have chosen to expand their mission and become Community Health Centers like Affinity. Affinity has shared challenges, successes, and lessons learned with TARGET Center to help other organizations following in our footsteps. Read the latest in a series of articles that began at the start of Affinity’s journey to become an FQHC. TARGET Center provides technical assistance, training, and resources to organizations receiving Ryan White funding to provide high quality care to people living with HIV.
Clinic Member Honored
The South Carolina Primary Health Care Association (SCPHA) recently held their Clinical Network Retreat. Affinity’s Glenda Elder received the award for South Carolina’s Clinical Support Staff of the Year. Congratulations Glenda!!
National HIV Testing Day
Get tested and learn the facts about HIV. Join us at Emmett Scott Center for a community observance of National HIV Testing Day. Gift card to the first 10 people tested. Free haircuts for children under 16 or anyone 16 or older who gets tested for HIV during the event courtesy of Tite Cuts Barbershop. Free hot dogs, games, and Free HIV Testing starting at 4:00 pm.
When: Tuesday June 27, 2017 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Where: Emmett Scott Center, 801 Crawford Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29730
Admission: FREE
Affinity Breaks New Ground For Quality Health Care
The rain held off Tuesday afternoon providing sunny skies for the ground breaking ceremony announcing construction of a new home for Affinity Health Center. The event was well attended by community partners, local officials, Affinity staff, and board members. Folks mingled and looked at renderings of the exterior and interior of our future facility while they dined on amazing food provided by Chef Rob Masone of Kre8 Xperience. Words of wisdom and support were given by Board Chair, Jennifer McDaniel; Former Board Chair, Pastor Maurice Revell; Rock Hill Mayor, Doug Echols; and Affinity Director, Anita Case. We are honored to have so many come out to support the expansion of our mission to provide quality healthcare for our community. Our new 30,000 sq. ft. facility is forecast to open in 2018. We continue to grow in our existing space and look forward to the new facility that will allow us to provide expanded access to services needed most: primary care, dental, women’s health, counseling and health education.