'Our patients can count on us': Crusader Community Health celebrates 50 years
Crusader Community Health is an asset, and we are celebrating a milestone this year. Our story has many chapters, and we are proud of what we’ve done and where we are going.
For 50 years, we have lived our mission to serve the medically underserved in our communities. We have delivered high quality primary medical, dental and behavioral health care and have continued to grow.
In 2021, we served 58,834 patients — the most ever.
Our goal is to continue meeting the health care needs of the communities we serve. We remain focused on providing access to high quality care while treating our patients with uncompromising dignity.
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When we opened our doors in 1972, we started with volunteers and a vision.
Our first clinic was purchased from the Diocese of Rockford for $1. Last year, we built a state-of-the-art clinic debt-free on the very same campus on West State Street.
Today, we have eight locations in Winnebago and Boone counties; including three school-based health centers. CrusaderNOW! offers walk-in medical services for adults and children at our West State, Broadway and Alpine clinics.
We have grown in our ability to meet people where they are in so many ways. Although barriers to healthcare continue to exist including access, financial, transportation, and language — we work diligently to reduce or eliminate those barriers. It is not just what we do, it is fundamentally who we are.
Our board of directors is comprised of at least 51 percent patients who represent the patients we serve and provide us unique points of view. Being guided by our skilled Board members affords us an opportunity keep our patients’ perspectives at our core.
The Crusader Community Health Foundation, which supports our mission, has a board made up of talented community leaders that volunteer their time in support of our important work.
Often our board members talk about what the community would look like if Crusader weren’t here. Those discussions are important. They allow us to be grateful for the path we are on and committed to the services we provide. Our high-quality care helps to defray overall healthcare costs in many ways and alleviates overutilization of emergency department services.
As we celebrate 50 years, we can confidently celebrate our sustainability. Our patients, partners, board members, donors and friends can count on us.
The vision of our founders helped us begin. Our steady leadership, incredible staff and supportive community have gotten us where we are today.
Crusader Community Health represents excellence in primary care. Our deep Rockford roots make us well poised to continue to grow, thrive, and serve.
I invite you to watch us as our next chapter unfolds.
Samuel G. Miller is the president and CEO of Crusader Community Health.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Crusader Community Health celebrates 50 years in Rockford
