Nashville, Tennessee – A total of $5.5 million was granted to Tennessee community health centers to add staff, operate longer, and expand health care services.
Through the Affordable Care Act, a total of $5.5 million was granted to community health centers in Tennessee. Throughout the state, grants were awarded to 23 federally qualified organizations.
The grants were awarded to the centers so as to boost the number of their staff. By doing so, health officials said they will be able to cater to more patients, while reducing the waiting periods due to limited health care attendants. The funding was also geared towards improving their operations in order to provide health care services longer as well. The government wanted to expand health care services of these health centers, addressing the specific needs of every patient.
Regardless the needs of a patient, an urgent care and treatment should be provided once they enter the health care facility. The community health centers are considered as their urgent care near me facility in obtaining necessary medications and treatments, regardless their health conditions.
The state Department of Health was able to receive a total of $503, 752. This grant was intended to fund urgent care clinics and facilities that the department solely operates.
Grant recipients in the Eastern Tennessee included the Cherokee Health Systems, which received $358, 990, while the Chota Community Health Services was granted $218, 622. Additionally, the Jacksboro’s Community Health was granted $200, 982, and $211, 868 for the Dayspring Family Health Center. Other recipients were eastern Tennessee health centers such as the Rural Medical Services, Rural Health Consortium, and Mountain Peoples Health Council.
Recipients in the mid-Tennessee region included Hope Family Health, which received $195, 392, and $187, 000 for Maury Regional Hospital. The Rutherford Primary Care Clinic also received $213, 896 to expand health care services, while the United Neighborhood Health was granted $294, 746. Moreover, a total of $229, 224 was granted to the Community Health Services at the University of Nashville.
An urgent care clinic or facility like the aforementioned centers normally serves about 367, 754 patients. Thus, the funding will allow them to serve an additional 24, 342 patients to the existing figure.
Health Services and Service Administration director Mary K. Wakefield said the health centers were providing preventive care and comprehensive primary care within their communities. Thus, the recent awards to all of the community health centers in the state will be used primarily to expand health care services as well as access to care for the most in dire need Tennesseans.
