FHCHC Winterizes COVID Testing at New Larger Location

Fair Haven Community Health Care (FHCHC) will be moving their popular free testing services to 293 East Street, New Haven, as of Thursday, December 3, 2020. This new location will provide much-needed room to expand testing capabilities as the colder months arrive in New England.

The new testing site at 293 East Street, between Grand Avenue and Chapel Street, is a short walk from where FHCHC’s testing began earlier this year and is easily accessible from New Haven bus lines. Winter weather and increased testing capabilities are the two key reasons a larger venue was sought. The East Street location was chosen for its proximity to FHCHC’s main location and the abundance of on-street parking.

FHCHC’s testing site has been consistently busy since opening at the 374 Grand location in the spring of 2020. While FHCHC has seen a steady flow of patients all summer and fall, recent rising rates of COVID positivity throughout the state have increased demand for testing locally. FHCHC has tested over 25,000 patients so far this year.

“The increase in testing reflects our community’s commitment to monitoring their status during these unpredictable times and we are proud to be able to offer free testing to anyone who needs it,” said Dr. Suzanne Lagarde, CEO of FHCHC. “In addition to testing, social distancing, and hand washing continue to be key to minimizing the spread of the pandemic.”

As a Federally Qualified Health Center, FHCHC is committed to community health needs and to bringing high quality clinical services to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. This includes making COVID-19 testing free, easy, confidential as well as accessible to everyone. FHCHC continues to collaborate with the State of Connecticut to offer free COVID testing to all. Walk-ups are welcome for testing from 9:30am-noon and 1pm-3pm, Monday-Friday. Additional hours are available by appointment, by calling 203-871-4179. “Our free testing program makes it possible for everyone to be tested, and we are grateful to be a part of keeping our families and communities safe,” added Dr. Lagarde.

Fair Haven Community Health Care is a federally qualified community health center (“FQHC”) established in 1971 in New Haven, CT by local activists. A nationally recognized leader in addressing health disparities in an urban community, FHCHC offers high quality, comprehensive health care to medically underserved and uninsured families. FHCHC serves nearly 18,000 patients at almost 80,000 appointments/yr. More than 70 medical providers assure that patients have high quality care (prenatal through geriatric). FHCHC provides a full spectrum of primary medical care, behavioral health services, wellness support and dentistry. Fair Haven Community Health Center is recognized as a “patient centered medical home” by both The Joint Commission and by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. www.fhchc.org.