By Angie Stewart
Congratulations to the Geiger Gibson Community Health Center (GGCHC) for celebrating their 45th anniversary! GGCHC, formerly Columbia Point Health Center, was the first Community Health Center in the country, spurring the health center movement in the United States. They opened their doors on December 10, 1965 to serve the uninsured, underinsured, and disenfranchised members of the Columbia Point, MA community.
After GGCHC opened 45 years ago, more than 8,000 Community Health Centers have been established in the United States, providing care for more than 20,000 patients. GGCHC provides family medicine, womens’ health services, behavioral health services, pediatrics, laboratory services, podiatry, optometry, HIV services, and dental services.
Lou Brady, GGCHC Executive Director said:
“Amidst concerns of shortage in primary care providers, Geiger Gibson Community Health Center remains the beacon of access by offering same day visits and medical appointments within 15 days…[the center] has worked hard to turn its legacy into expertise and expertise into innovation for the benefit of the patients, the community and public health.”
For the past 45 years, GGCHC has provided an excellent health center model for all Community Health Centers to follow. Keep up the good work!
Has your health center recently celebrated, or will soon celebrate an important milestone? Email astewart@nachc.org to be featured in a NACHC blog.