KVHC to mark Community Health Center Week

    PATTEN — Katahdin Valley Health Center (KVHC), headquartered in Patten, Maine, with facilities throughout the Katahdin Region in Houlton, Island Falls, Millinocket and Patten, is hosting a celebration at its Patten Medical Center to commemorate National Community Health Center Week.
    The public is invited to attend a “lunch and learn” program, under the tent, on Thursday, Aug. 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at KVHC, 30 Houlton Street in Patten. In the event of inclement weather, the program will be moved inside.
    The second week of August each year is dedicated to recognize the service and contributions of Community Health Centers across the United States.
     On July 17, Gov. John Baldacci formally proclaimed August 10-16 as Community Health Center Week, urging Maine citizens to recognize this observance.
    “Community Health Centers serve a vital role in today's society by caring for the nation's medically underserved and uninsured by providing high quality, cost effective primary health care to all who need our services,” he said.
    Katahdin Valley Health Center serves more than 6,682 patients each year in the communities of the Katahdin Region, most of whom rely on Medicaid, Medicare, MaineCare or have no insurance at all, said Gaile Nicholson, KVHC director of communications.
    The day’s program will feature a Diabetes Health Fair for members of the public with free blood sugar and blood pressure checks. Other activities planned for the special Community Health Day include:
• KVHC Medical Director Joe Sardina, M.D. will discuss diabetes and your health;
• Podiatrist Lawrence Crystal, DPM will talk about foot care;
• Optometrist Robert Ellis, O.D. will discuss eye care;
• Tammy DeLong of Aroostook Agency on Aging and Kerry Kier of Eastern Agency on Aging will have information to assist people, including heating assistance; and
• Megan Day of KVHC Patient Assistance will offer medical sliding fee information, heating and home energy efficiency information, healthy recipes and healthy living.
    Handout materials will be provided on sliding fee application, healthy recipes, home energy and home efficiency, diabetes management and more. Blood sugar testing glucometers will be given away as door prizes.
    Katahdin Valley Health Center (KVHC) is a provider of high quality, cost effective primary health, dental, substance abuse and mental health care to the people in the Greater Katahdin Region. A Federally Qualified Health Center, KVHC is a nonprofit business governed by a board of directors, comprised of area volunteers, funded by a federal grant under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
    KVHC employs 72 people at its facilities in Houlton, Island Falls, Millinocket and Patten. For more information, contact Nicholson at 207-528-2285, ext. 301 or via e-mail at gnicholson@kvhc.org.