New Name, New Logo … Same Mission

United Neighborhood Health Services, which has served low income neighborhoods and uninsured or under-insured residents since 1976, recently rebranded as Neighborhood Health to better capture the individual spirit of the community clinics.

According to CEO Mary Bufwack, the change really reflects what the 11 clinics were already being called by the population they served. Rather than saying ‘United Neighborhood Health Services,’ a patient was much more likely to say they received care from the Cayce Clinic or the Edgehill Clinic. The following name changes and coordinated signage went into effect at the end of November 2014:

Cayce Clinic is now Neighborhood Health @ Cayce Place;

Dickerson Road Family Clinic has become Neighborhood Health @ Cleveland Park;

Downtown Clinic is Neighborhood Health @ Downtown;

Madison Clinic is Neighborhood Health @ Madison;

Main Street Clinic is Neighborhood Health @ East Side;

Southside Family Clinic is Neighborhood Health @ Napier Place;

Unity Family Clinic is Neighborhood Health @ Casa;

Mission Clinic is Neighborhood Health @ Mission;

Wallace Road Family Clinic is Neighborhood Health @ Southern Hills;

Waverly Family Clinic is Neighborhood Health @ Edgehill; and

Hartsville Family Clinic is now Neighborhood Health @ Hartsville.

In addition to new signage, the main number to reach any clinic has changed to (615) 227-3000, and the new web address is NeighborhoodHealthTN.org.

“Changing our name to Neighborhood Health allows us a more unique identity that is easier for people to remember, Bufwack said. “Although we called ourselves UNHS for nearly 40 years, our name was easily confused with other healthcare organizations. For example, I was recently introduced as the CEO of United Health Care, the health insurance company.”

She continued, “We want to be known by a name more reflective of who we are … Neighborhood Health. We are excited about our new identity, and we look forward to offering the same care and services to our clients throughout the Nashville area.”

In other news, Neighborhood Health recently was awarded a $250,000 federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to establish and expand behavioral health services. The funding will be used to add three behavioral health staff members to the five behavioral health counselors already in place.

The expansion will allow the organization to better serve special populations including the homeless, as well as immigrants and refugees. The Neighborhood Health counselors eliminate the need to make a referral to another agency or delay getting help to an individual in need. Instead, patients who report symptoms of behavioral health or substance abuse issues during a medical visit are immediately connected to an on-site counselor. It is anticipated an additional 1,500 patients will receive care as a result of the grant.

“Integrating mental health and substance use services with medical care services produces improved health outcomes and provides a cost-effective approach to caring for people with multiple healthcare needs by closely coordinating their behavioral health and medical care services,” explained Bufwack.

Neighborhood Health annually serves approx. 32,000 medically underserved people of all ages; 17,000 have no health insurance.