Community health gets federal boost

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. - Dental and medical needs are the same no matter where you get your health care. Now, thousands of people will benefit from upgrades at non-profit community health centers across Hampton Roads, as part of the $787 billion stimulus package Congress passed earlier this year.

Dr. Subir Vij, Medical Director for Portsmouth Community Health Center, told WAVY.com, "I think the overall quality of care for our community is going to increase drastically."

Dr. Vij showed us around the center. Once at the dental clinic he said, "This is a really old x-ray machine. You can see the chair is tiny. So with this new money, which is coming in, we'll be able to upgrade this. We'll be able to get digital x-ray."

Portsmouth Community Health has about 7,800 different patients in Norfolk and Portsmouth. Dr. Vij is excited about new electronic doors for the disabled, new EKG machines, and even new exam tables. It's all possible because of more than $500,000 in federal stimulus money.

Another expensive item are the electronic health records. The Chief Financial Officer for Portsmouth Community Health Angela Vitale said, "That is a huge investment, and the largest part of our $520,000."

Dr. Vij explained how the computerized system will benefit patients. "When a patient comes to us, and then is transferred to another facility like a hospital, they're able to access records and take good care of the patient," Dr. Vij said.

In every part of our region doctors are excited about the improvement on the way for patients. Horizon Health Services has clinics in Waverly, Ivor, and Surry. It will get more than $365,000.

Medical Director Dr. George Coleman told WAVY.com, "It's going to enable us to do some testing here that we had to outsource. We'll have hospital-quality equipment in the community."

Dr. Coleman said while the center works to preserve life, the money will also improve quality of life for patients. "We're going to be able to offer pulmonary studies that we would not have had before, and previous patients would have had to drive 50 miles," said Dr. Coleman.

Stimulus money received earlier this year has already helped Horizon Health add 190 new patients and two staff positions. The new equipment might not be possible for these centers without the new grants.

Vitale of Portsmouth Community Health explained, "About 49 percent of our patients are uninsured. Our mission is to serve the medically underserved, and the medically underinsured."

Hampton Roads breakdown of stimulus money:

The Peninsula Institute for Community Health will get $971,455.
Eastern Shore Rural Health System will get $1,100,570.
In all, Virginia is receiving $13.5 million for community health.