Wellness center receives national leadership award

One of 46 in U.S. to earn recognition

TORRINGTON — Community Health and Wellness Center is one of 46 health centers in the country — and the only one in Connecticut — to receive the National Quality Leader Award from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

HRSA is the federal agency that oversees the country’s more than 1,300 health centers, which serve over 27 million Americans annually.

Its National Quality Leader Award is bestowed for exceeding national quality benchmarks, Healthy People 2020 goals, or other critical thresholds above the national health center averages in chronic disease management, preventive care, and/or prenatal/ perinatal care.

Launched by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People 2020 has four overarching goals: To attain high-quality, longer lives free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death; achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, and improve the health of all groups; create social and physical environments that promote good health for all; promote quality of life, healthy development, and healthy behaviors across all life stages.

“We are extremely honored to have received the National Quality Leader Award from HRSA,” said Joanne Borduas, CEO of CHWC. “Our amazing, hard-working health care team is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, patient-centered care. We believe it is our obligation to the Northwest Corner and our community to be the best we can be and continue to perform as a center of excellence, with integrated health care services available to all.”

The Community Health and Wellness Center of Greater Torrington is committed to keeping communities healthy, Borduas said. The center, its employees, volunteer practitioners, board members, officer, and independent contractors are deemed to be employees of the Federal Public Health and Human Services. In a compassionate,

“We believe it is our obligation to the Northwest Corner and our community to be the best we can be.”

Joanne Borduas, CEO, Community Health and Wellness Center

patient-centered environment, CHWC services are accessible and provided without discrimination, with cultural competence, and where all people matter regardless of their ability to pay, she said.

CHWC offers and continues to develop a range of health care services for the underserved throughout northwestern Connecticut, including medical, dental, chiropractic and counseling services. It strives to achieve the reputation of “provider of choice” for affordable, high-quality services that achieve positive patient outcomes in a welcoming and caring environment, according to the agency.

CHWC collaborates and advocates with other organizations to increase the region’s capacity to meet the communities’ health and wellness needs.

CHWC is located at 469 Migeon Avenue, Torrington, and 115 Spencer Street, Winsted, with the following satellite locations: FISH of Torrington, 332 South Main St.; Sullivan Senior Center, 88 East Albert Street, Torrington; Open Door Soup Kitchen, 160 Main Street, Winsted; YMCA Emergency Shelter, 480 Main Street, Winsted; Torrington Soup Kitchen, 220 Prospect St.; and Oliver Wolcott Technical School, 75 Oliver Street, Torrington.

To reach CHWC, call 860-489-0931 or visit www.chwctorr.org.

Contributed photo Community Health and Wellness Center, based in Torrington, recently received the National Quality Leader Award from the Health Resources and Services Administration. Above is CEO Joanne Bourdas.