Ocean Health Initiatives, Inc. (OHI) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) based in Ocean and Monmouth County, New Jersey. OHI provides high quality, accessible and affordable, family health care at its seven sites. Our Health Centers are in Brick, Freehold, Lakewood, Little Egg Harbor, Manahawkin, Manchester and Toms River; with our school-based Wellness Programs located within the Clifton Ave Grade School, Lakewood; and Lakewood High School.
OHI welcomes patients from all walks of life beginning at birth through their senior years. Our board-certified and bi-lingual staff work in partnership with our patients on a daily basis to ensure that individual and family needs are continually met.
At OHI, we seek to empower our patients with the tools they need to maintain optimum physical and emotional health. Our comprehensive range of services are available to the areas uninsured and under-insured residents on a sliding-fee scale, based on an individual or familys ability to pay. Our call center is open 24 hours a day; 7 days a week guaranteeing continuous access to care.
OHI recognizes the impact that accessible health care and education can have within a community. Making healthy choices should be easy. To benefit the well-being of our patients, OHI provides a range of additional services including chronic disease self-management programs, a mobile medical unit and a patient portal site offering the ability to access medical records and educational materials from home.
Ocean Health Initiatives Board of Directors are members of the Monmouth and Ocean County communities serving in all parts of the region. They are dedicated individuals who seek to uphold the mission and policies of OHI and work to ensure the strategic planning and financial stability of the health center. We, the Administration and Staff, are grateful to the following for their dedication and commitment to OHI.
Ocean Health Initiatives, Inc. (OHI) is dedicated to providing quality, accessible and comprehensive primary health care to the residents of Ocean and Monmouth County; regardless of economic status. We accomplish this mission by promoting healthy behaviors and lifestyle choices through educational outreach and providing the tools needed to maintain optimum physical and emotional health.
At Ocean Health Initiatives, Inc. (OHI), our vision is that all people, regardless of age, ethnicity or religion, have access to health care that is affordable and available throughout the course of their lives.
We envision establishing health centers that offer comprehensive primary care medical services that cover every stage of the life cycle facilitated by a professional, courteous staff. Our health centers will offer state-of-the-art technology, innovations in health care approaches and techniques, and a breadth of service that extends beyond physical needs.
Our future involves a continuous evolution that puts patients first anticipating the needs of the communities we serve and building programs and services that focus on preventing chronic and debilitating diseases. We envision an environment that is strengthened by support from federal, state and local governments, community leaders and other agencies and organizations that share our vision and have similar aspirations for our society.
Our goals include eliminating any barriers that prevent people from accessing health care. It is our vision that the tools needed for basic health care are within reach for the weak, the poor, the undocumented and the vulnerable that so desperately need assistance. At OHI, our vision is to see our children, our elders and our neighbors living better lives ones that come with health and wellness. That is the foundation we envision establishing for our communities of today and for our children of tomorrow.
Ocean Health Initiatives is dedicated to providing quality, accessible and comprehensive primary health care to the residents of Monmouth and Ocean Counties; regardless of economic status. We accomplish this mission by promoting healthy behaviors and lifestyle choices through educational outreach and providing the tools needed to maintain optimum physical and emotional health.
Theresa Berger is the President and Chief Executive Officer Of Ocean Health Initiatives, Inc. - (OHI). She assumed the role in December 2003 when OHI became a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike. In May 2005, OHI received its full designation to become an FQHC, making it the first community health center in Ocean County, NJ.
As President and CEO, Dr. Berger leads an Executive Leadership Team focused on OHIs vision to provide high quality, accessible and affordable family health care to the areas residents. Under her leadership, OHI has transformed the conventional view of affordable healthcare, turning OHI from a clinic, to a health center and now a Patient-Centered Medical Home. OHI currently serves approximately 25,000 patients a year with 94,000 visits annually by its staff of over 200. In 2013, OHI was awarded Level 3 Recognition at all its sites by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), which is the highest level award for quality recognition a FQHC can receive.
Dr. Berger has more than 20 years of experience and expertise in ambulatory care settings. Prior to her role at OHI, she served as the Executive Director of the Kimball Medical Center- Neighborhood Health Center where she was responsible for overseeing, managing, coordinating and supervising day-to-day activities for a multi-clinic community healthcare practice consisting of Medical, Pediatric, OB/GYN, Surgical, ENT, and Dental services.
Dr. Berger also serves as the chairwoman of the New Jersey Primary Care Association which represents all 23 Community Health Centers and 127 satellite community-based ambulatory healthcare facilities throughout the state of New Jersey.
Dr. Berger holds a Doctor of Medicine with concentrations in internal medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, surgery, geriatric medicine, family practice, and emergency medicine from the Universidad Mexico Americana Del Norte; and a bachelors degree in Biology from Wagner College.
Theresa is a proud resident of Howell, NJ. She has lived in Howell for over 20 years with her husband and 2 sons. Her eldest son just graduated from the Law and Public Service Learning Center at Colts Neck High School and will be attending New York University starting in the Fall of 2016. Her youngest son attends Howell High School.