Fresno’s medical desert west of Hwy. 99 gets a second health center
A new health center will open its doors to patients on Nov. 3 in Fresno’s medical desert west of Highway 99.
West Fresno previously had only one clinic serving the historically left behind area’s over 50,000 residents. Now, it has two.
Located at 122 East Cesar Chavez Blvd., the 13,000-square-foot United Health Centers facility offers medical and dental services, behavioral health services, vaccines, chiropractic care, women’s health services, X-ray and laboratory services.
“This part of town is one of the most underserved areas, if not the most, in Fresno for many things, and at the top of that is healthcare services,” UHC President and CEO Justin Preas said.
UHC is a network of community health centers that primarily serve underserved communities in California’s central San Joaquin Valley. The opening of the new southwest clinic marks UHC’s 39th location in the Valley and 15th in Fresno.
Individuals with Medi-Cal, Medicare and most insurance plans are eligible for care, Preas said. Additionally, those without insurance can receive service through a sliding-fee scale program, which is based on their ability to pay.
The center will offer free transportation for patients to and from appointments and provide about 50 jobs for health care employees.
“As a non-profit, federally qualified health center, here to take care of anyone and everyone in the community, no one is turned away,” Preas said. “Our job is to break down barriers, create accessible, affordable healthcare and provide quality healthcare.”
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer and Council Vice President Miguel Arias, who represents District 3 where the new clinic is located, spoke at the United Health Centers grand opening on Oct. 24.
“This is a big day for the City of Fresno,” Dyer said. “I know it is for the people who live in southwest Fresno. This is something that is unprecedented in this area of our city.”
West Fresno has historically been a place with limited investment, other than heavy industrial, leading to economic and health disparities compared to other parts of the city. Preas shared some of those metrics for the southwest Fresno area with those in attendance at the grand opening.
Over 20% of residents lack a high school diploma, and over 20% receive food assistance, he said. Additionally, over 36% are considered to be obese, 30% live with a chronic medical condition, over 50% have not had dental care in the past year and over 40% have no usual source of medical care, forcing them to rely on emergency departments, with preventable conditions left untreated.
“If people do not have access to quality healthcare, so many other things in life are just not possible,” Preas said.
Both Dyer and Arias spoke on the devastating effects the COVID-19 pandemic had on southwest Fresno residents due to the shortage of medical services in the area.
Many of those living in the area were essential workers, putting them at higher risk for catching the disease while at work. The already highly limited health care services in the area were overwhelmed, Arias said, leaving many without proper care.
“It was a critical moment for us to reach out to UHS and say, we’ve got to do something different,” Arias said.
The city contributed $6 million to the new clinic, making it the city’s first investment in healthcare, Arias said.
Transportation barriers in west Fresno also contribute to difficulty accessing healthcare, Dyer said.
“So, having a neighborhood medical center like UHC is a game-changer,” Dyer said.
The previous Medical Director of Valley Children’s, Dr. Jolie Limon, is quoted as saying there should be 30 to 40 doctors for every 50,000 people in a community, according to the local west Fresno non-profit Highway City Community Development website.
“Healthcare is a right for everyone, no matter what walk of life you come from, how much money you make, or you don’t make, and we are going to do our very best and our part to improve this community,” Preas said.
