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Jewish Renaissance Medical Center
T
he Jewish Renaissance Medical Center, operated by the Jewish Renaissance Community Board, is a comprehensive, family oriented community health center, dedicated to the provision of high quality, accessible, and affordable, primary care services to the low income and medically indigent residents of the Perth Amboy community. Established in September 2001 and achieving FQHC status in January 2002, the Jewish Renaissance Medical Center (JRMC) is a distinct 501 (c) 3 corporation with an independent Board and mission. Founded by the Jewish Renaissance Foundation (JRF), it is also the first faith-based Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in the United States . Located within a 4.7 square mile radius along the eastern border of Middlesex
County , JRMC’s comprehensive primary medical services are accessible to the city's 47,303 residents. The population in Perth Amboy is young, poor, primarily Hispanic in origin, and has a large number of undocumented aliens living in the community.
JRMC’s founder, JRF, is a non-profit, faith-based, human services organization that has developed a number of innovative programs to assist individuals with limited incomes and no health insurance to access health care services in the city of
Perth Amboy, New Jersey an area of great need. In October 1998, JRF was selected by HRSA as one of ten agencies nationwide to serve as a site to conduct social reconnaissance meetings bringing together federal and state representatives and members of the community to discuss the health care needs of the community of Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Participants included representatives from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Region 2 Field Office and Central Office, the New Jersey Department of Health, and the New Jersey Primary Health Care Association.
The results of these meetings have been used as a platform for the planning and development of the JRMC. HRSA has identified Perth Amboy as a community committed to the “National Campaign for 100% Access to Primary Care and 0% Health Disparities.” The mission of the campaign is to increase access to primary care for everyone in a community and reduce health disparities due to race, socio-economic status, and ethnicity.
An ultimate goal of the JRMC is to broaden the scope of health care services provided and to increase the number of people served through maximizing the utilization of existing resources and through the development of new health care resources. In fulfillment of that mission, the JRMC currently operates a primary care delivery system comprised of the Medical Center ; a school based health center network of 4 schools, and a public-housing based satellite for the elderly. The JRMC is a participating provider in five managed health care programs and provides services to over 2,800 patients annually, generating more than 7,400 patient visits.
The JRMC has forged many collaborations and partnerships in the city of
Perth Amboy to increase health care access, improve health outcomes, reduce health disparities, and enhance the quality of life of its residents. Significant proposed projects include expansion of after hours care, a new 50,000 square foot replacement site for the Medical
Center , expansion of school-based health services, development of a hospital affiliation/collaboration and formation of an integrated continuum of care, development of a prescription assistance program, and expansion of specialty care services.
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