The Health Care District of Palm Beach County marks its 20th anniversary, a milestone recently recognized by the Districts Board of Commissioners.
“The Health Care District was launched with a challenging mission,” said Board Chair Jonathan Satter. “Many dedicated people in our community deserve thanks and credit for helping the Health Care District grow and mature into the comprehensive health care system it is today.” Since 1992, the Districts Trauma System has saved nearly 40,000 lives. Every year the District protects the health of 1.3 million residents by delivering over two million health services for uninsured residents, enabling uninsured expectant mothers to receive more than 200,000 services from doctors and other health care providers, staffing registered nurses to care for nearly 170,000 students who make 655,000 visits to the public school clinics, providing vision and hearing tests to nearly 60,000 students, and treating residents who make nearly 19,000 visits to the Emergency Room at Glades General Hospital. “We are a unique health care system with a primary focus of prevention,” said Dwight D. Chenette, the Districts Chief Executive Officer. “With the leadership of our volunteer Board and the support of our dedicated employees, we have implemented programs that satisfy several areas of critical need. Most notable, especially in light of the recent economic downturn, is the growth of our health coverage programs for the uninsured and for working people with limited incomes. These health coverage initiatives, as well as our trauma system and school health services, have been recognized as model programs for the nation.”
