Assistant Director of Nursing at WRHS Recognized by RI Health Center Association
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WRHS’ CEO Alison Croke, Board Chairman Frank Hopkins, Assistant Director of Nursing Heidi Simmons and Director
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Heidi Simmons is one of eight recipients, each
employed by a Rhode Island Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Jane
Hayward, President and CEO of the Rhode Island Health Center Association,
presented the awards. Governor Daniel McKee, Senator Jack Reed, Senator Sheldon
Whitehouse and Congressman David Cicilline recognized the awardees for playing
vital roles throughout the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring their communities have
affordable, quality care.
“Heidi championed getting all our staff vaccinated in late December and led the effort to organize vaccine distribution among our patients,” stated Alison Croke, President & CEO of WRHS. “Most recently, she partnered with the Jonnycake Center to facilitate a COVID vaccine clinic at their location in Westerly. Her efforts helped to improve the safety and wellbeing of 150 individuals living in an underserved community.”
Heidi Simmons joined WRHS in the fall of 2020,
while the pandemic was in full swing. She assisted the FQHC with opening its
respiratory clinic and establishing a secure COVID testing area in a rented
mobile unit. Simmons spearheaded WRHS’s COVID vaccine coordination efforts and
worked directly with the RI Department of Health to ensure leadership, staff
and patients remained up to date on the latest developments related to the
pandemic. She partnered with WRHS’s facilities to confirm all CDC-required cleaning
and disinfecting procedures were being followed. When the vaccine became
available, she led the effort to secure vaccines for staff, and helped the
organization navigate the complex ordering and procuring process at the state
and then the federal level.
“While I am deeply honored to receive this
award, it has truly taken an organized team effort to ensure the safety of
Rhode Islanders during this pandemic,” stated Heidi Simmons. “I can’t speak
highly enough about the efforts that my fellow health center staff and
community partners such as the Jonnycake Center have contributed over the last
18 months. I strongly encourage anyone who has not gotten vaccinated to protect
yourselves, your families and your neighbors by making an appointment today.”
WRHS is community-based health care provider that provides
primary care and dental services in underserved areas. Individuals ages 12 or older now have the opportunity to
receive a COVID-19 vaccine. For information related to the vaccine or to
schedule an appointment, call (401) 539-2461 or visit wrhsri.org.
About Wood River Health Services
Since 1976, Wood River Health
Services (WRHS) has provided high-quality affordable medical, dental and social
services to the communities of southwestern Rhode Island and southeastern
Connecticut. A private, non-profit Community Health Center, WRHS is devoted to
providing quality patient care to more than 8,000 patients. It is recognized by
the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient-Centered
Medical Home. WRHS is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), a
community-based health care provider that receives funds from the HRSA Health
Center Program to provide primary care services in underserved areas. FQHCs
must adhere to a stringent set of requirements including providing care on a
sliding fee scale based on the ability to pay and operating under a governing
board that includes patients. For information about its programs and services,
visit WRHSRI.org.
