Cherokee Health Systems to Celebrate National Health Center Week 2021

August 05, 2021

Media Contact: Brittany McCraw

865-943-6762

brittany.mccraw@cherokeehealth.com

Cherokee Health Systems to Celebrate National Health Center Week 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 5, 2021

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- Cherokee Health Systems is preparing to celebrate National Health Center Week 2021 from Aug. 8 – 14. The week serves as a time to celebrate Community Health Centers (CHC) across the country and their contributions to the nation’s health, particularly for the vulnerable and underserved populations. In the United States, there are more than 1,400 CHCs working to ensure that people can access affordable, high-quality healthcare. According to the National Association of Community Health Centers, CHCs are locally run and are part of a national network serving almost 30 million people nationwide. They save American taxpayers $24 billion a year in health care costs by preventing and managing chronic diseases. Cherokee is a nationally known CHC that has the pleasure of providing comprehensive health services, including primary care, behavioral health, dental, and pharmacy services in 23 locations across Tennessee. With 400,000 patient visits last year and over 700 employees, Cherokee is the largest health center in the state.

“It’s our utmost honor to provide health services to people in Tennessee. This National Health Center Week, we hold steadfast to our values and look towards improving health outcomes and narrowing health disparities for generations to come,” said Dr. Dennis Freeman, Cherokee’s Chief Executive Officer.

During National Health Center Week, Cherokee will be implementing outreach efforts that include promoting healthcare and COVID-19 vaccinations within the homeless population, raising awareness about our services in public housing communities, honoring our community partners, staff, and more. This year, Cherokee is pleased to announce that our 2021 Community Partnership Award will be presented during the week to Lennon Seney United Methodist Church. The church hosted Cherokee’s first series of COVID-19 vaccine events.

Cherokee is part of a nationwide effort to save lives through COVID-19 vaccinations, already vaccinating more than 11,000 Tennesseans. People can call 1-866-231-4477 to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination. To learn more about Cherokee and our upcoming COVID-19 vaccine events, please visit www.cherokeehealth.com