Horizon Health joins community health centers around the country this August to celebrate National Health Center Week and this year’s theme, “Building Innovative Care Where It Matters Most”. Horizon has a long history of innovative thinking.
To keep health care in their hometowns, five central South Dakota communities, Howard, Bryant, Woonsocket, Wessington Springs and Plankinton, created their own Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), in 1978. Those clinics eventually merged and became Horizon Health.
For nearly 50 years, Horizon Health has continued that same spirit of innovation by finding new ways to make high-quality health care more accessible for rural families.
Today, Horizon Health provides medical, dental and behavioral health services to more than 26,000 patients across 19 communities within our 28,000-square-mile footprint. By investing in technology, Horizon helps ensure patients and rural communities will always have access to care regardless of whether the local provider is out on leave or for other unplanned circumstances. These virtual services support medical, behavioral health and dental care, helping patients stay on track with their health goals.
Chronic care management offers patients increased interaction with their care provider and nurses who help them manage their conditions and stay well.
Our Smiles for Miles program support free dental checkups in October for children under six years old. The visit with the dentist, cleaning and fluoride treatment are available to every child, regardless of family income. This helps ensure more children receive preventive dental care and build oral health habits early in life.
Horizon Health's quality improvement initiatives challenge our care teams to achieve even better outcomes for the patients we serve. Those goals are routinely met and often exceeded.
None of this happens without strong community and public support. We are grateful to our legislators, both federal and state, as well as all the local leaders who help strengthen and sustain the community health center mission.
Most importantly, we know that care close to home means healthier and happier communities. We value our connection to the rural way of life because we live and work here too. Horizon Health has been caring for our rural communities and families for decades. We may have begun seeing your grandparents and now care for your children. That level of trust doesn’t just happen and is invaluable.
We know how important your Horizon Health clinic is to the community and we’re committed to working in your hometowns for generations to come.
Thank you for your support of Horizon Health.