"I don't own a car, so getting to doctor's appointments has always been difficult," says BVMI patient Eleni. "The Garfield clinic is much easier to reach by bus, and sometimes I can even walk. Now I can get the care I need without worrying about how I'll get there."
For Eleni, the opening of BVMI's Russell Berrie Healthcare Center in Garfield means more than a new building. It means easier access to the healthcare she depends on, and one less barrier standing between her and a healthier future.
Her story is exactly why BVMI expanded - to remove barriers and bring healthcare closer to those who need it most.
This summer, after years of planning, the Russell Berrie Healthcare Center opened its doors, bringing free, high-quality healthcare closer to uninsured adults throughout southern Bergen County. Located in the heart of Garfield and easily accessible by public transportation, the new healthcare center removes one of the biggest barriers many patients face: getting to care.
Its opening also comes at a critical moment.
Changes to Medicaid eligibility and the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium subsidies are expected to leave thousands more Bergen County residents without affordable health coverage in the years ahead. For many hardworking adults, losing insurance won't mean they stop needing healthcare. It simply means they'll need somewhere else to turn.
For nearly 17 years, BVMI has been that place.
