Bethel Family Clinic expands services with stimulus moneyPublished on March 4th, 2010 By K. LEE MORRISSETTE
One purpose of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was to address the health and social consequences of the recession. Nearly $2 billion dollars of this stimulus money was earmarked for health center improvements or expansion, retention of personnel and services, and adoption of health information technology. A recent report from the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative looked at the outcomes from stimulus funding related to health care. Funding was distributed among 1,100 nationwide community health centers providing essential healthcare to underserved populations who are low-income or uninsured. The report estimates that the $1.8 billion distributed so far will result in more than a 2-to-1 return on the investment. This was seen in new services and jobs, providing economic relief to suffering communities, while also expanding access to medical care for over 2 million new patients. The Bethel Family Clinic, part of the community health center network, put its share of the stimulus funding to good use. The first $114,000 was used in May 2009 to fund visits to 16 village Head Start facilities where clinic personnel provided program examinations and preventive screenings, adding 400 new patients in addition to current enrollees. This outreach program saved the state over $200,000 in travel costs alone. The project will be completed in early 2011. An additional $300,000 of stimulus funding awarded late in 2009 is being used for facility upgrades such as a new roof, windows, doors, and an eco-friendly, energy-generating wind turbine. Furthermore, a new telephone system and upgraded information systems technology will make the whole clinic run more efficiently, improving both access and quality of service for its patients. The inside projects are well on their way with the outside projects beginning spring 2010 and completion of all projects by summer 2011. Dr. K. Lee Morrissette is a Bethel Family Clinic physician. Contact us about this article at editor@thetundradrums.com |
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