U.S. Rep. Andy Kim Visits, Touts CompleteCare Network
U.S. Andy Kim stands between CompleteCare President and CEO J. Curtis Edwards, Chief Medical Officer Azizeh J. Salloum and other executives at CompleteCare Health Network in Bridgeton on Friday, August 9, 2024. Photo courtesy of David Kannapel/U.S. Rep. Andy Kim Staff
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
BRIDGETON – U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, the leading candidate in the U.S. Senate race in New Jersey, visited the CompleteCare Health Network on Friday in a low-key event during National Health Center Week to show his support for local healthcare community.
Kim’s entourage consisted of his driver, South Jersey organizer and photographer – no big campaign signs, rallies or fanfare. For Kim, it was a chance to meet people at the grassroots level taking care of those who need healthcare the most but, in most instances, the least able to pay.
After meeting with the executives, including President and CEO J. Curtis Edwards, Kim said he left impressed. Kim visited CompleteCare’s administrative offices in Bridgeton and then the Gwendolyn Gould Center at the Vineland Health Campus.
“I really try to do a lot when it comes to healthcare,” Kim told Front Runner New Jersey exclusively on Friday. “I try to be responsive to the needs of constituents and the people of New Jersey. When I do townhalls … one of the questions I always get is about access to healthcare, high prescription drug costs, affordability issues.
READ: CompleteCare Celebrates 50th Anniversary
“So, I’m very interested in these health centers that are able to serve everybody. That’s what we need a lot more of – the ability for everybody to get healthcare. Healthcare shouldn’t just be for the rich and powerful. I wanted to see and I have to say I heard really good things and the great reputation about CompleteCare and the important role it plays in this area. So I wanted to come see for myself,” the Congressman added.
Kim, whose effort to become the first Korean-American ever elected to the Senate has gained national attention, was greeted with a power point presentation about CompleteCare by Edwards and his staff.
“We realize during this week, you could have gone anywhere in New Jersey but you came here and we are appreciative,” Edwards told the two-term Congressman, who grew up in Cherry Hill.
Kim was also introduced to many of the executive leaders of the CompleteCare Network, including Chief Medical Officer Azizeh Saloum; Richard Elwell, executive vice president of business and operations; Meghan Spinelli, vice president of community services and infection control prevention; Robert Moran, director of facilities and corporate compliance; AnnaMaria Rosado, director of medical staff services and recruitment; Myrna Cortes, director of human resources; Kimberly McCargo, director of quality and population health services and Salita DeMary, director of marketing.
Kim and CompleteCare leaders then traveled to the Gould Center where Saloum and Edward led a tour of the facility.
During the session in Bridgeton, Kim, Edwards and CompleteCare team discussed their efforts to increasing mental health services, it’s mobile health center, OBGYN services, and their new office that is focusing on men’s health. That men’s health office is set to open in Williamstown later this month.
When Edwards mentioned that CompleteCare was attacked by ransomware hackers earlier, Kim said there had been discussions in Congress to provide more tools to healthcare agencies – a frequent target of cybercriminals – and other businesses.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that. These are wakeup calls for all of us,” Kim said.en
After the tour in Vineland, Kim suggested that seeing such facilities will help him in framing meetings in Washington, D.C. on how the federal government can chip in and help.
“I’ve been very impressed [with CompleteCare]. It’s amazing the number of exam rooms and … you’re able to give them some privacy so that’s good,” Kim told Edwards. “Thank you for allowing me to take a look. I don’t represent this area just yet but hopefully in a few months that will change and then we can have some conversations about what else can I do.”
I know there are debates in Congress right now about the levels of funding to facilities like this. … Right now, we have a broken healthcare system. “
Kim’s office said he visited Salem after his trip to CompleteCare, where he heard from local leaders and residents in public housing communities about conditions and discussed potential solutions that could help improve housing for residents.
“We are grateful to Congressman Andy Kim for taking the time to come to Salem City, under the threat of a tornado, to walk the streets with us and get a firsthand look at the housing needs of residents living in poverty, listen to the challenges faced by the city, and spent time talking to community members, especially those at the public housing authority, to hear about the conditions they live under,” Salem Mayor Jody Veler said in a statement released by Kim’s office.
“It gave us such hope that Congressman Kim can be our voice at the table in Washington and a champion for the needs of Salem and other small towns like ours in South Jersey that are all too often overlooked. Thanks so much for listening,” she added.
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