RWJBARNABAS HEALTH AND SAINT JAMES HEALTH CELEBRATE NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK, OPEN NEW HEALTH CENTER AT NEWARK’S EAST SIDE HIGH SCHOOL

Saint James Health Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), in partnership with RWJBarnabas Health, opened a new health clinic at Newark’s East Side High School as part of an ongoing effort to increase access to care and improve health outcomes in the city’s most vulnerable populations. The ribbon-cutting ceremony coincided with the celebration of National Health Center Week.

Saint James Health President and Chief Executive Officer Nicole Fields thanked those in attendance, saying, “We are extremely lucky with the timing of this ribbon-cutting at East Side High School in the Ironbound. It falls during National Health Center Week. The federally qualified health centers in New Jersey serve over 574,000 patients annually.

This number continues to grow, along with the demand for affordable healthcare.”  She continued, “We would not be here today without our partnership with RWJBarnabas Health. For the past two years, this partnership has grown to serve the community. For example, we are able to send our patients to RWJBarnabas Health doctors, and vice versa, and have their electronic medical records close at hand. This provides better quality care.”

Located at 69 Pulaski St. in Newark’s culturally rich Ironbound neighborhood, the Saint James Health Center at East Side High School has its own separate public entrance and offers patients primary care services, including pediatrics, adult medicine, vaccines, and physicals. It also provides access to trained social workers and assistance with insurance enrollment in a safe and comfortable environment and with both language and cultural proficiency.

“It comes as no surprise that we are here at East Side High School,” added Newark Schools Superintendent Roger Leon, describing the critical role that East Side High School played, in coordination with school, city, and state officials, in addressing mass vaccination needs throughout the pandemic. “We are tremendously grateful to our partners at Saint James Health and RWJBarnabas Health. Our community is better because of you.”

“I’m incredibly proud to be here on behalf of my 41,000 terrific colleagues,” said Mark E. Manigan, President and Chief Executive Officer of RWJBarnabas Health. “When people look back on what we have been doing for the last couple of years, they will judge us by how we treated the most vulnerable,” he added, applauding Newark Mayor Ras Baraka for his commitment to the project.

“Sometimes, society can take for granted that tens of thousands of people have dedicated themselves to caring for the sick and injured. It is inherently noble work. This facility and partnership will provide vital access to care, coordination, and other social services that tie it all together. We are proud to partner with Saint James Health and the Newark School System to support students, families, and the Ironbound Community,” he continued.

The collaboration with the City of Newark and Newark Public Schools brings high-quality health care right into the center of the community—the local public school—increasing access to care for students, their families, and surrounding residents.

“Healthcare is incredibly important,” said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, explaining the disparities in access to care that challenge some neighborhoods within Newark and surrounding communities. “The partnership between RWJBarnabas Health and Saint James Health and other private and public relationships is so important. It’s not competition, it’s collaboration. Affordable healthcare that is accessible to our residents is exactly what we need.”

As part of the event, RWJBarnabas Health also sponsored a backpack giveaway outside East Side High School, providing over 1,000 backpacks filled with essential school supplies for area children in time for the start of school.

This year’s National Health Center Week theme, Aug. 4-10, is “Powering Communities Through Caring Connections.”

“The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to fund and support Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to provide medically underserved communities or populations with the high-quality health care they need and deserve, regardless of their insurance coverage or financial means.

It’s through partnerships like this, between Saint James and RWJBarnabas Health, that Community Health Centers can make a lasting impact in the communities they serve,” said U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Region II Director Joseph Palm. “As we celebrate National Health Center Week and the comprehensive, innovative, and cost-effective services centers like this provide our families, friends, and neighbors, it’s incredibly important to acknowledge the community partners, stakeholders, and caregivers who make it all possible.”

The creation of the Saint James Health Center at East Side High School is part of a broader effort by RWJBarnabas Health, funded through the “Our Healthy Newark” appropriation from the State of New Jersey, to address health equity in vulnerable, historically underserved communities and the social determinants that impact health outcomes, including access to transportation, primary care facilities, safe housing, affordable medications, healthy foods, and other socio-economic factors.

The initiative includes linking a core group of FQHCs to hospital electronic medical records systems, embedding community health workers to help patients navigate care, recruiting medical specialists to expand care provided at local clinics, and addressing community social determinants of health on-site or nearby.

In February, as part of the same “Our Healthy Newark” initiative, RWJBarnabas Health and Saint James opened a 340b retail pharmacy and “Food Farmacy” at Saint James’s 228 Lafayette Ave. location. The pharmacy provides discounted medication and education to patients. It allows patients to pick up prescriptions at their appointments, improving the affordability and access to vital medicines. The “Food Farmacy” gives patients on-site access to free healthy foods and culturally appropriate nutrition and dietary education to help manage their diagnoses.

Also in attendance for the event: State Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz, Assembly Budget Chair Eliana Pintor Marin; Newark City Council President LaMonica McIver; Newark Councilmember Anibal Ramos, Jr.; U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Region II Executive Director Dennis Gonzalez; Ketlen Baptiste-Alsbrook, Director, Newark Dept. of Health and Community Wellness; and RWJBarnabas Health Senior Vice President for Community Health Balpreet Grewal-Virk.

ABOUT RWJBARNABAS HEALTH

RWJBarnabas Health is the largest, most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, with a service area covering eight counties with five million people. The system includes twelve acute care hospitals – Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton in Hamilton, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway in Rahway and Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, three acute care children’s hospitals, Children’s Specialized Hospital with a network of outpatient pediatric rehabilitation centers, a freestanding 100-bed behavioral health center, two trauma centers, a satellite emergency department, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state’s largest behavioral health network, comprehensive home care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacy services, affiliated medical groups, multi-site imaging centers and two accountable care organizations.

RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers – with more than 41,000 employees and 9,000 physicians– and routinely captures national awards for outstanding quality and safety. RWJBarnabas Health launched an affiliation with Rutgers University to create New Jersey’s largest academic healthcare system. The collaboration aligns RWJBarnabas Health with Rutgers’ education, research, and clinical activities, including those at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey – the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center – and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care. For more information, visit www.RWJBH.org.

ABOUT SAINT JAMES HEALTH

Saint James Health, Inc. (SJH) is a non-profit organization committed to bringing premier healthcare services to the Newark metropolitan area since 2016. As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), Saint James Health is committed to treating everyone who visits its centers, regardless of their ability to pay.  The organization operates community health centers in the East, West, and South Wards of Newark, New Jersey. It provides comprehensive primary health and preventive services in a comfortable and accommodating setting to the members of the communities it serves. The organization’s services are focused on patients and coordinated by an exceptional wellness team to address every healthcare need comprehensively and compassionately.