The saying that health is wealth has more meaning than one.

Many times, a person’s life expectancy comes down to the quality of healthcare they can afford.

One organization plans to remove financial barriers and level the playing field. The Multi-Cultural Health Evaluation Delivery System (MHEDS) is opening another health center to better serve the Erie community.

Wednesday morning, MHEDS broke ground on its new facility at 1407 Buffalo Road.

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Previously a CVS, the new building will serve as a healthcare center delivering personalized healthcare to those in need, regardless of their financial situation, fulfilling its motto, “meeting you where you are.”

CEO, Alivia Haibach, explained why they chose Buffalo Road, “This zip code has lacked access to primary care for a long time. When you look up and down this street, there’s not a lot of doctors offices and there’s a lot of people who live here who need access to care, so this building will help us meet our neighbors where they are and walk with them in their healthcare journey so that everyone has the best possible opportunity to achieve the best optimal lifelong health outcomes.”

MHEDS has substantial evidence of improving the healthcare needs of those in the Erie community.

Since opening in October of last year, MHEDS’ Parade Street location has had nearly 3000 patient visits and has already seen screening improve for breast and colorectal cancers by 5% in that short period of time.

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“We’re able to have more opportunities with access for screening exams, for cancers, for chronic medical conditions and by doing so, we’re able to provide a lot of preventative services and hopefully that’s going to be helping improve their quality of life and life expectancy,” said Dr. Maggie Biebel, MHEDS Chief Medical Officer.

At the ceremony, Golden Home Health Care presented a $7,000 check, which will go toward MHEDS’ new mobile medical unit, further extending their reach.

Haibach said, “It represents unwavering commitment to bring equitable, community-based healthcare to families who need it the most right where they live.”

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