Amoskeag Health is the best-kept secret in Manchester, New Hampshire, and wants to be much less of one! This nonprofit organization provides a quality healthcare experience for anyone in need of services. Hannaford has supported Amoskeag Health through the Community Bag and Bloomin’ 4 Good Programs.
Tell us about Amoskeag Health.
Amoskeag Health, which has been around since 1993, is a federally qualified health center with a mission to provide access to healthcare and enable services for individuals who may experience barriers to care. Our patients might have a problem with insurance or be uninsured; they may have limited financial ability; they might not speak English or have difficulty accessing traditional healthcare.
We have about 16,000 patients, and of those patients, 43% prefer their medical care delivered in a language other than English, making accessing healthcare services tricky. Our organization has 62 languages spoken at the health center and 11 interpreters on staff. About 50% of our team is bilingual. It is excellent for our patients to come in and likely see someone that looks like them and speaks their language; this can be a welcoming comfort.
Our clients also include primary English speakers born and raised in New Hampshire. We serve anybody who needs access to services. And as a federally qualified health center, we collaborate with community health centers around New Hampshire.
What services do you supply to the community?
There’s quite a broad range of services that we provide. On a high level, we have primary care, prenatal care and behavioral and substance use disorder treatment, including medication-assisted treatment. We also offer many community outreach programs, such as a behavioral health program in the Manchester, New Hampshire, school system.
We run a state-wide program called Special Medical Programs, designed to help children who may have special needs and autism spectrum disorders. They may need case management, nutrition or other supportive services. We also have a program in the community called Adverse Childhood Experience Response Team (ACERT), a program in collaboration with the police department and the YWCA. This program provides interventions to children exposed to a traumatic event by involving the police and connecting the child to mental health support and community resources.
Amoskeag Health also offers nutrition assistance, podiatry and optometry, in addition to a host of other educational services, such as a diabetic educator. And, of course, an entire nursing staff works with our patients. Much is going on in patient care and case management, but that is what we do as a community health center. We bring all these supports under one roof.
What sets your organization apart from others in your community?
The collaborations that we have made with other agencies are great. For example, we partner with the YMCA a lot. When we have a patient with hypertension or high blood pressure, and they need access to the gym, the YMCA will give them that access at a reasonable rate. It’s a great relationship. They also offer a diabetes program where we can refer patients with diabetes to get exercise, learn about nutrition and try and improve their health.
Our community has a great spirit of collaboration. We are trying to build relationships with our partners, which sets us apart. The goal is that if we can’t do it, we’ll find a local service that can help.
We also collaborate with Easter Seals, which provides services for people with disabilities or special needs, and Waypoint for homeless youth outreach. There’s a strong partnership with the Manchester Boys and Girls Club.
Our community has a great spirit of collaboration. We are trying to build relationships with our partners, which sets us apart. The goal is that if we can’t do it, we’ll find a local service that can help.
Tell us a story that illustrates your organization’s good work.
Here is a beautiful story directly from a woman who has benefited from much of what Amoskeag Health offers.
“Hi, my name is Jen. When I was younger, I started smoking pot to put my mind at ease and give me more confidence. I didn’t have the right coping skills when my life turned upside down, so it became a gateway to harder drugs.
This created a habit I couldn’t control. I tried, again and again, to get my life back on track by going to rehab, then jail and recovery again. Every time I would complete a program, I was sure I wouldn’t go back, but no matter how hard I tried, I’d end up in a situation.
Finally, two years ago, after my last stay in rehab, I made an appointment at Amoskeag Health to join their Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
At that appointment, I remember feeling very welcomed. I was listened to and treated with dignity and respect. They gave me the support I needed by referring me to a counselor, doctor and any other help I needed. I could rely on them for effective communication and care.
Amoskeag Health has provided a safe place to receive all my care. I see my PCP for routine appointments, attend MAT to take care of my behavioral health and see my counselor to take care of my mental health. I got pregnant during my journey, and prenatal care was available. Now my one-year-old son has a family medicine doctor.
I can’t stress enough how important it has been to have the compassion, commitment and communication from everyone during my journey to recovery. Amoskeag Health isn’t just a doctor’s office; it’s a community of meaningful relationships that grew over time. I consider them to be part of my family. Everyone should feel like I do at the doctor’s, which is love. With determination, help and hard work, I’ve gotten back everything I’ve lost. I have become a valuable support to the people around me. I know I can achieve lasting sobriety, stay mentally and physically healthy and be a great mother, daughter, friend and more with the support and services I’ve received from Amoskeag Health. I am so grateful for the dedication of everyone involved. I recommend Amoskeag Health to all my family and friends, and if you need help or support, it’s only a phone call away. Thank you for listening.”
Jen’s experience describes how we want all our patients to feel when they come here. It was so impactful for her to get all that care under one roof. Amoskeag Health is where you can find all the care you need, no matter your background. If you are uninsured and need services and treatment, we will find a way.
What is your most outstanding achievement or contribution to the community?
Amoskeag Health is proud to serve a diverse community. Language access, diversity, equity and inclusion are important initiatives for our organization. We are a safety net provider for people who feel like there’s no place for them to go and feel comfortable. Here, it doesn’t matter your gender identity, sexual identity or what language you speak. When you walk in the door, you will be treated with love and respect.
What do you want people to know about Amoskeag Health?
People say we’re the best-kept secret in the city. And we’re always looking for new ways to share the work we do because there may be somebody who could benefit from it. An opportunity like this from the Hannaford Bloomin’ 4 Good and Community Bag Programs is a great way to ensure people know that there are services for them. No one should go without healthcare or behavioral health.
Amoskeag Health wants people to know we are here for anyone and everyone in need of healthcare.
To come to Amoskeag Health, you don’t have to be struggling or unemployed. Someone can be self-employed, working full-time and come here for healthcare. Our doctors are incredible—many have been providing care here for over a decade—and are in-network for several private insurance carriers. No matter your insurance status, we can help provide a quality healthcare experience where your mental and physical health are prioritized together.
Amoskeag Health wants people to know we are here for anyone and everyone in need of healthcare. We’re the best-kept secret that would like to be less of a secret, and we are so grateful for this platform to get the knowledge of our organization out to the community!
How will you use the funds raised from the Hannaford Helps Community Bag and Bloomin’ 4 Good Programs?
The funds from the Hannaford Bloomin’ 4 Good and Community Bag Programs go towards our operating support and care for the uninsured. These funds help support our interpreters and case management. Every little bit counts and makes a difference in the community we serve.
Published December 28, 2022.