Stimulus funding to keep Health & Dentistry’s doors open
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LORAIN — Lorain County Health & Dentistry’s doors remain open thanks to federal stimulus funds, clinic President and CEO Stephanie Wiersma told a crowd Tuesday.
The center opened its doors 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday and offered free health screenings and testing as part of its celebration of National Health Center Week. Keynote speaker U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Copley Township, spoke of the importance of community health centers.
“They are for the vulnerable and underserved members of communities,” Sutton said. “A visit to Lorain County Health & Dentistry may be their only option.”
A percentage of the center’s clients don’t have any medical or dental insurance, yet they can get care at a community health center such as Health & Dentistry.
Congresswoman Betty Sutton talks to a veteran following her speech at Lorain County Health & Dentistry. (Photo by Bruce Bishop, The Chronicle-Telegram.)
When the clinic learned last summer that it wasn’t going to be funded, employees worried they’d have to close, Wiersma said.
Since then, Health & Dentistry received approximately $1.6 million in federal stimulus money through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to be used during the next two years, and that will allow the center to expand services, expand hours and provide more care for low-income and uninsured people in the community, Wiersma said.
About $250,000 of the grant money is to be used to purchase and install an electronic medical records system in the clinic. Another $100,000 is earmarked for dental services for the uninsured during the next two years.
Sutton said continuing to fund health centers, including Health & Dentistry, is critical.
“It’s vital to bring affordable care to all Americans so they can get care wherever they feel comfortable by doctors they know,” Sutton said. “Last fall, we were on the verge of losing this health center. … Federal stimulus money has allowed this center to lower fees, expand hours and buy equipment.”
Contact Alicia Castelli at 329-7144 or acastelli@chroniclet.com.
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