AHS Family Health Center opens new integrated health clinic in Chicago

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State Senator Ram Villivalam, State Representative Kevin Olickal, Alderman Andre Vasquez, Alderperson Debra Silverstein, and Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) President & CEO Ollie Idowu attended the AHS Family Health Center (ahsfhc.org) Open House and Ribbon Cutting ceremony April 26, 2024, at their new health center headquarters at 6301 N. Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60659.

Board Chair of AHS Family Health Center Dr. Rohitkumar Vasa, welcomed legislators and healthcare stakeholders. Dr. Vasa has been affiliated with AHS Family Health Center Board for 18 years, “I am astonished to see the growth of this organization with the main mission to improve the wellbeing of this community regardless of patient race, ethnicity, social background or insurance status,” the press release quoted Dr. Vasa saying.

The event was attended by approximately 120 guests, which included not for profit community organizations, stakeholders from the community and distinguished Illinois Legislators, including representatives from the office of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky.

“We don’t want to lose sight on why we have invested so much in this community and in this $10 Million project, the primary goal is to improve access to quality healthcare services for the underserved and the end goal is to improve health outcomes of this diverse community through positive transformation of the healthcare industry,” said AHS Family Health Center CEO Dr. Muhammad Paracha, said.

State Senator Ram Villivalam spoke about the value Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) bring to the community and how Springfield is helping with setting policies to increase insurance enrollments and affordable prescription drugs. Senator Villivalam recently joined cosponsoring SB3727 to protect 340B Prescription Drug Discount Program which is vital to community health centers and AHSFHC patients.

State Representative Olickal lauded AHSFHC’s mission of providing healthcare services to immigrants and other high-risk populations.

Idowu spoke about the need for accessible community health clinics in medically underserved communities in Chicago and across Illinois.

Several public and private entities shared in funding the renovation of the new site.

In 2023, AHS Family Health Center was ranked among the top 20% percent of health centers nationally for clinical quality by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).