BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN)......Filling a critical health care services need extending from North Buffalo into West Side, Neighborhood Health Center of Western New York has opened its seventh local - this on Delaware Avenue, just north of Tacoma Avenue.
The center, located 2497 Delaware Avenue, takes a vacant building that had been home to at least two other health care-related tenants.
"You wouldn't think Delaware Avenue in North Buffalo is a spot where there are health care needs, but there are," said Andrew Yates, Neighborhood Health Center chairman.
Neighborhood Health Centers invested more than $600,000 acquiring and renovating the two-story building. Much of the funds came from state allocations secured by Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes and Buffalo Assemblyman Jon Rivera.
"The new clinic on Delaware is a necessary and welcome expansion," Peoples-Stokes said.
Joanne Haefner, Neighborhood Health Center president and CEO, said the expansion was driven by need as the organization's six other facilities are running at capacity.
The North Buffalo site could see as many as 18,000 patients annually.
The building has 13 exam rooms plus other servuces.
Neighborhood Health Centers provide a wide range of medical services including family medicine, OB_GYN, vision care and dentistry. Patients are accepted whether they have health care coverage or are without coverage.
The concept of neighborhood health clinics was born in 1965 and Neighborhood Health Center was formed in 1987 - founded in the former Buffalo Public School 79 on Lawn Avenue in the city's Black Rock district.
"I can't think of a better investment than investing in health care services for those who need it," said Assemblyman Bill Conrad.
Health center provides a variety of essential services
Health center provides a variety of essential services
