Press Release

Release Date: April 1, 2008
HRCHC Contact: Communications Department
Telephone: (207) 861-3466
Email: Communications@HealthReach.org

Strong Area Health Center Holds Preparedness Meeting

Strong-On March 20th the Strong Area Health Center convened a meeting of local officials to discuss emergency planning for Strong and the surrounding communities. Emergency preparedness officials from HealthReach Community Health Centers, the town of Strong, Franklin County, the Maine Primary Care Association, and Franklin Memorial Hospital all attended the meeting. The meeting was hosted by Jewellyn Baker, practice manager, and by Nadene Pillsbury, LPN and safety coordinator at Strong Area Health Center.

The focus of the meeting was to improve emergency planning and resources. Among the topics discussed were keeping communication open in the face of a natural disaster or disease outbreak, identifying pet-friendly shelters in the area, ensuring that all the organizations had emergency supplies on hand, and discussing the roles that the organizations would play should an emergency situation occur. “As a rural Health Center we were unsure of what our role would be in the community in an emergency situation,” says Jewellyn Baker. “We want to be prepared and be there for the members of our community in the event something catastrophic should occur. It is important that we collaborate with local and state government to ensure that members of our community are taken care of during an emergency.” During the meeting the group also set goals to improve emergency preparedness in the community and developed a plan outlining how those goals would be met.

Emergency officials from the town of Strong and from Strong Area Health Center will meet again in April to conduct an exhaustive review of emergency plans. The full group will meet again in June to asses their progress and to continue to improve emergency preparedness procedures for the area.

Strong Area Health Center is part of the HealthReach Community Health Centers family and is now accepting new patients. To make an appointment, call 684-4010. HealthReach Community Health Centers is a system of eleven federally qualified, community-based health centers located in central and western Maine. Dedicated providers deliver high-quality, affordable healthcare to underserved residents in over 80 rural communities. HealthReach is a private, non-profit organization with a 30-year history, funded by patient fees, grants and individual donations.