Three area St. Luke’s rural health clinics are being integrated into Star Community Health, a federally qualified health center and an affiliate of St. Luke’s University Health Network.

The transition of the Tamaqua, Lansford and Ringtown facilities, officials said, will take health care to higher levels for the underserved.

“No matter where you live or what you can afford, you get the care that you need,” announced Thursday from the Tamaqua site at 34 S. Railroad St.

Hicks noted that Star is part of 52 federally qualified health centers that assist 1 million underserved people each year.

“A lot of these folks either didn’t have good access to quality care or couldn’t afford it,” Hicks said.

Those who visit a Star facility, she said, can receive primary care services just as they had at a rural health center. But now they’ll have access to “enabling services.”

“What that means is that we have social workers, nurse case managers, community outreach coordinators, referral coordinators and pharmacists,” Hicks said.

The extra support levels at a qualified health center, she said, mean that patients won’t be left behind in their care.

“In typical practices, they see their provider but they may have needs that prevent them from continuing and getting well — and they drop into a black box,” Hicks explained.

At a Star facility, she said, patients get referred to the right services if they need additional care.

Star even has financial advisers who can help a patient get insurance, Hicks noted.

Dr. Gregory Dobash, medical director of the rural health centers, called the transition from rural health to Star “a big day.”

Dobash, who is based out of the Ringtown office, said one word sums up rural health: access.

“It is access for folks who were uninsured, underinsured and otherwise marginalized to find a place where they can have quality primary care,” Dobash said.

The transition, he explained, will also add a board of “governees” comprised of patients.

“They will help us determine if we’re meeting the needs of the communities we serve,” Dobash said. “We’ll have lots of patient assistance and lots of patient education and even greater access than we had as a rural health center.”

Diana Laquinta, president of St. Luke’s Miners in Coaldale, recognized employees of all three rural health centers.

“Without you guys, the history of the rural health clinics and the future of the Star clinics would not be possible,” she said.

Eric Rothstein, director of rural health, recognized Micah Gursky, St. Luke’s rural health clinic administrator.

“Micah, your dedication to the community over the past decade has laid the foundation for everything we’re celebrating today. Your relentless pursuit to bring services to the underserved rural areas that are too often overlooked should be recognized not only be recognized as a professional achievement but as a deep reflection of your character,” Rothstein said. “What you’ve done here is nothing short of remarkable.”

Rothstein said that Gursky always believed that the area deserved better access to care.

“We have the power to make that happen,” Rothstein said.

The Lansford facility is at 100 W. Patterson St., and the Ringtown facility is at 411 S Shenandoah Rd.

The three join the nearest Star Community Health facilities in the Lehigh Valley.

For more information on the services offered — everything from health care to pediatrics to dentistry — visit starcommunityhealth.org.