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ShareKingsport Times News: Dungannon, St. Charles health clinics to share in stimulus funds
July 5, 2009
Community health care facilities across Virginia will share more than $13.5 million in federal stimulus grants, Democratic U.S. Sens. Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner announced recently.
Facilities in Dungannon in Scott County and St. Charles in Lee County are included in the grants doled out by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to 24 community health clinics in Virginia for maintenance and equipment needs.
Clinch River Health Services Inc. in Dungannon will receive $344,955, Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems Inc. in Saltville will receive $766,950, and St. Charles Health Council Inc. in Lee County will receive $965,715.
The clinics charge patients according to income and target uninsured and under-insured residents.
“This $13.5 million investment will help ensure that community health facilities are properly maintained and able to provide access to quality health services to our neediest Americans,” Webb said. “Funds for these improvements and services will help create jobs and ensure that community health centers continue to serve as a safety net for Virginians who wouldn’t otherwise have the means to see a primary care doctor.”
Warner said the grants will help the facilities continue to expand access to quality health care for uninsured Virginians.
“These projects also will help us create or preserve health care provider jobs, especially in many of our rural areas,” he said.
The Recovery Act Capital Improvement Program (CIP) grants will support the construction, repair and renovation of more than 1,500 health center sites nationwide. More than 650 centers will use the funds to purchase new equipment or health information technology systems, and nearly 400 centers will adopt or expand the use of electronic health records.
On March 31, Webb and Warner announced $5.2 million to create and save staff positions at the 24 centers now sharing in the latest $13.5 million payout.