Delaware’s Delegation Releases Statement on Westside Family Healthcare Providing Services for Patients in Kent County and Surrounding Area

WILMINGTON – Today, members of Delaware’s Congressional delegation released a statement on the news that Westside Family Healthcare, a community health center, will provide care for patients earlier than expected to meet the health care needs of the underserved in the southern New Castle, Kent, and western Sussex Counties of Delaware.  

Delmarva Rural Ministries will close its Kent County health center on June 10, 2011. Westside will begin providing patient health care from June 13 to Aug. 1, 2011 at a temporary location, the James W. Williams State Service Center, located at 805 River Road in Dover. After Aug. 1, Westside will operate out of its Dover health center.  

“I am grateful that patients will now be able to seek care from Westside Family Healthcare,” said Sen. Carper. “Everyone should have access to quality, affordable health care and the decision by Westside Family Healthcare to begin caring for patients in Kent County now underscores their commitment to the health and wellbeing of the community. I appreciate all of the hard work that our federally-qualified health centers like Westside Family Healthcare, La Red Health Center and Henrietta Johnson Medical Center do to provide much-needed health care. I also want to commend the Delaware Division of Public Health for working to ensure that patient health care services will be continued in Kent County.”  

“I commend Westside Family Healthcare for their commitment to providing care to communities throughout Delaware,” said Sen. Coons. “Community health centers are essential to providing primary and preventive care access to underserved people up and down the First State. Health centers like Westside create a win-win situation — they not only offer access to care, but they also save the nation billions of dollars.”  

“I have always strongly supported Delaware’s federally qualified health centers, which provide critical services for the uninsured and underserved individuals in the State,” said Congressman Carney. “As Chair of the Delaware Healthcare Commission, I worked with the state’s FQHCs to help them expand their service areas and reach more Delawareans in need. I’d like to thank Westside Health for working tirelessly to provide continuous care for Kent and western Sussex County residents, and I am confident that their services will significantly increase the quality and access to care in the area.”  

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