Ryan Health | Wadsworth Opens to Provide Health Care to Underserved Washington Heights and Inwood
NEW YORK CITY — Ryan Health, a mission-driven network of community health centers in Manhattan, cut the ribbon on its seventh neighborhood-based primary care center in the city, bringing quality, affordable health care to residents in the Washington Heights and Inwood neighborhoods. Ryan Health | Wadsworth is located at 154 Wadsworth Avenue (between 180th Street and 181st Street). In total, Ryan Health has 19 locations including School-Based Health Centers, Community Health Outreach Centers, and a Mobile Health Center.
On hand for today’s ribbon-cutting were Ryan Health President and CEO Brian P. McIndoe, MPH, Ryan Health Board Chair E. Ronald Guy, MA, CHM, US Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), New York State Senator Robert Jackson, Assembly Member Carmen de la Rosa, New York City Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez and Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer.
“Health care is a dire need in the underserved Washington Heights and Inwood neighborhoods, and Ryan Health | Wadsworth will have a significant impact on the health of the community,” said Brian P. McIndoe, MPH, President, and CEO of Ryan Health. “This center brings primary care to people of all ages. We aim to tackle the health conditions these communities face by providing exceptional primary care and programs that we have found to be effective in managing diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic conditions.”
Studies have shown that Washington Heights has the greatest unmet need for health care in Manhattan, and has disproportionately high rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Hospitalizations for heart disease and diabetes are high, demonstrating the role of a lack of access to primary care to manage those chronic conditions plays.
”I commend Ryan Health for continuing their mission to provide for our city‘s underserved residents with its mission-driven network of community health centers,“ said US Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). ”The opening of Ryan Health | Wadsworth serves as a critical step in ensuring that health care is a right for all New Yorkers. Washington Heights has the largest need for health care in Manhattan, with disproportionally higher rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. I trust Ryan Health will work tirelessly to improve the health and lives of our residents and look forward to working with the Washington Heights center to continue providing high-quality, affordable, and comprehensive medical care to those who need it.“
Ryan Health | Wadsworth is located in what was originally a neighborhood theater built in the late 1920s or early 1930s. The renovation retained the original brick and stone facade of the building and amplified key architectural details that provide character and familiarity. A new storefront at ground level enlivens the block with large windows and emphasizes openness. The interior is patient- and family-friendly, with a light and airy waiting area with a double-height ceiling to allow more sunlight and highlight the soothing blue-green wall colors. The seven exam rooms are slightly larger than normal to allow for families and multiple care providers; one of the rooms is a bariatric exam room.
The center’s design, finalized after the COVID-19 outbreak, includes infection control elements such as sliding exam room doors that eliminate the need to touch doorknobs, safety screen shields that complement the check-in desk, battery-operated automatic faucets, and a PPE station in the lobby. The building was designed by E4H Environments for Health Architecture.
"I am very excited for Ryan Health to open their newest location in Washington Heights,” said New York State Senator Robert Jackson (District 31). “After following Ryan Health's work providing community-centered and culturally-responsive health care throughout Manhattan for several decades now, I know the Wadsworth primary care center is going to become a valuable lifeline to our Northern Manhattan neighbors. Ryan Health's belief in health care as a human right is one I share, and I look forward to seeing them put that belief into practice in our community and supporting them however I can. Welcome to the neighborhood!"
“Healthcare in Northern Manhattan, where residents are predominantly black and brown working class has not always been adequate or accessible. The historic inequities of our healthcare system have been exposed during this pandemic. Our community needs quality healthcare. The lives lost during this health crisis are unbearable and now more than ever it is paramount to have healthcare that adequately serves our needs.” said Assembly Member Carmen De La Rosa. “I look forward to continue to work with Ryan Health to deliberately serve and elevate healthcare access in our communities.”
“Providing people with quality health care is a human right. We welcome Ryan Health and the services they plan to bring to the community. We must continue to make quality and affordable health services accessible to our local community,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. “Northern Manhattan and the Bronx have some of the highest rates of asthma, heart disease, and diabetes in the State. We must continue expanding vital health services, especially during a time when the Trump Administration has been trying to dismantle the Affordable Care Act.”
“This new facility will put primary health care right where it’s needed,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “Washington Heights residents can now come to Ryan Health | Wadsworth and help keep aches and pains from developing into serious illnesses.”
Ryan Health | Wadsworth is expected to serve 3,500 patents, equaling over 14,000 visits. It will employ 18 staff when fully operational. Staff of the center will be bilingual, reflecting the population of the community.
“Ryan Health works hard to ensure we measure up to our founding principle that healthcare is a right, not a privilege,” said E. Ronald Guy, MA, CHM, Ryan Health Board Chair. “Our expansion into Washington Heights and Inwood underscores our mission. We’re bringing healthcare directly to the heart of one of New York’s most underserved communities. We know we’ll have a positive impact on the residents.”
In addition to E4H Environments for Health Architecture, other firms working on the Ryan Health | Wadsworth renovation include Urban Project Collaborative for project management and Gilbane Construction.
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About Ryan Health
Ryan Health (formerly The William F. Ryan Community Health Network) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) based in Manhattan that has been providing high-quality, comprehensive and affordable primary care to New York’s diverse and underserved communities since 1967. Ryan Health’s tagline, “Caring for New York. Here for you.” unites its network of 19 not-for-profit sites. These include seven community health centers, seven school-based centers, four community outreach centers, and a fully-equipped mobile medical van, which together share a common mission, supported by the founding principle that healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Ryan Health’s staff of nearly 500 play an integral role in caring for over 50,000 patients annually. Ryan Health is a proud recipient of federal grants to support its projects and programs. For more information about this funding, please visit our website at www.ryanhealth.org.
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