Federal funds should help area health clinics
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Money is expected to arrive soon at community health centers chosen for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants, and the jobs that will be supported are already planned.
"This year we had record growth, but we are short two doctors and three nurses. It has been incredibly difficult," said David R. Brewton, associate executive director at the East Liberty Family Health Care Center.
The center faced a serious challenge in 2008, serving 8,500 patients in 41,847 visits with the equivalent of 9.3 full-time doctors, he said. In the past year, the center had a 25 percent increase in uninsured patients, which Mr. Brewton said was thought directly related to rising unemployment.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services yesterday announced the release of $9.4 million, designated as Increased Demand for Services funds, to expand services at 36 federally qualified health centers in Pennsylvania. The grants are designed to create or retain approximately 180 health center jobs over the next two years.
The East Liberty center will receive $200,704.
"We're hiring two doctors and three nurses," Mr. Brewton said. "We really need the funds to do that ... We've had a hard time attracting doctors. There's a shortage of primary care doctors, so salaries are going up, but we weren't keeping pace."
Beyond the next two years, Mr. Brewton said, it's hard to know how the center's services will look. He said the new doctors should be hired in August or September.
"We work very hard to have a diversified funding base," he said. "We don't just rely on government; that is less than 20 percent of our total budget. Charitable contributions account for about 25 percent and insurance and patient payments come to 50 to 55 percent."
In line to receive $99,785, the North Side Christian Health Center also plans to use the money for more staffing -- in this case, two additional medical assistants, said Floyd Cephas, executive director.
"The medical assistant is the person you first have contact with. The proper ratio -- to help with the flow of patient care, and to do our best -- is to have two medical assistants for each provider," Mr. Cephas said. The center will now be able to meet that ratio for its six health care providers. "It translates to our heart's desire: to deliver the best possible health care," he added.
One grant recipient, Community Medical Services in Uniontown, has recently closed. It was slated to receive $100,000.
Others in southwestern Pennsylvania receiving Recovery Act awards are:
Centerville Clinics Inc. (11 locations), Fredericktown; $620,497.
Sto-Rox Family Health Council Inc., McKees Rocks; $147,128.
Community Health Clinic Inc., New Kensington; $100,000.
Primary Care Health Services Inc., Homewood; $354,893.
Squirrel Hill Health Center; $122,095.
University of Pittsburgh, $115,513.
First Published March 28, 2009 12:24 am
