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Contact: Patricia M. Hansen, MA
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
732-235-6307 or hansenmp@umdnj.edu
Contact: James DeWorken
Special Assistant to the Superintendent of New Brunswick Schools
848-565-0192 or james_deworken@nbps.nj.us
Eric B. Chandler Health Center Opens New Location in New Brunswick High School
New Brunswick, NJ - The Eric B. Chandler Health Center hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new satellite location in the New Brunswick High School on October 9, 2012. The new Chandler Health Center satellite will begin providing medical care in addition to comprehensive dental and social services on November 19 for the entire family. The new site is a collaborative effort between Johnson & Johnson, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the Eric B. Chandler Health Center Community Board, the New Brunswick Board of Education, the Office of the Mayor of New Brunswick, New Brunswick Development Corporation and the Foundation of UMDNJ.
“I first became involved in the planning for this site during my tenure as senior associate dean for community health at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. I am thrilled to see that this dream of school based health services has become a reality. The added site will provide even greater access to care for New Brunswick residents." said Dr. Denise V. Rodgers, interim president of UMDNJ.
The 2,100 square-foot health center located in the high school will provide well and sick visits, immunizations and vaccinations. This innovative model will provide increased healthcare services to students and area residents where they learn, live and work, with the goal of helping these individuals to lead healthier lives.
"The opening of the satellite health center is a good example of how a collaborative effort is addressing the critical need for access to health care services within our community,” said Bonnie Petrauskas, director, corporate contributions and community relations, Johnson & Johnson. “Johnson & Johnson is privileged to be a part of this innovative effort to serve students, neighborhood residents and the community."
The onsite healthcare team will consist of a physician, registered nurse, dentist, dental assistant and a customer service representative. The center will be open Monday through Friday.
“The Health Center satellite will provide an expanded opportunity to serve the health care needs of our community and students,” said Ed Spencer, president of the New Brunswick Board of Education. “The high school students may also be able to observe and utilize the Wellness Center personnel as expert lecturers and mentors.”
Healthcare services at this location will be similar to those currently provided at the Eric B. Chandler Health Center on George Street and its first satellite location on Church Street in downtown New Brunswick. The Chandler Health Center is a federally-qualified health center affiliated with Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and currently provides more than 55,000 patient encounters per year.
“The establishment of the new Eric B. Chandler Health Center satellite facility at our new high school, created as a community school, is a great example of the working partnership between the City and our Board of Education in a shared service program that enhances the availability of healthcare services, not only to our students, but to all our residents as well. The efforts of our community partners, Johnson & Johnson, the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the Chandler Health Center community board, the New Brunswick Development Corporation and the Foundation of UMDNJ have been tremendous and we are most grateful to them for their help in further expanding the facilitating access to quality health care for all our residents as part of our overall community wellness initiatives,” said New Brunswick Mayor James Cahill.
The school-based health center will be open to all residents. Most insurance plans will be accepted and fees will be based on a sliding scale based on an individual’s ability to pay.
“The goal of the program is to elevate the wellbeing of the students and the community, said Peter S. Amenta, MD, PhD, dean of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. “Placing the health center in the high school is another extension of our community health mission and through this collaborative effort we are pleased to provide these greatly needed quality healthcare services.”
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