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New Wayne County Health Center opens this week SYLVIA MCGINNIS News Reporter Better location, more exam rooms, and more space for staff members to function in their administrative and clinical capacities—these are some of the changes that patients will notice at the new Wayne County Health Center. Located on Hwy. 90 Bypass between Upchurch Construction and the Wayne County Detention Center, the changes at the new health center should translate into better service for the patients and greater client satisfaction, according to Shawn Crabtree, Executive Director for the Lake Cumberland District Health Department. Employees of the Wayne County Health Center started seeing patients at the new facility Monday morning, after taking the latter part of last week and the weekend to move from the old health department to the new site. The new health center was originally expected to be completed in April of this year. However, several weather delays, a short delay in which the electric wires had to be moved underground due to the health center’s close proximity to the airport, and a delay due to some repainting needs pushed the completion date to last month. Now, with the opening of the new health center this week, patients can look forward to many improvements, resulting from the changes between the old facility and the new one. The major change between the two facilities is space, noted Crabtree. “Anyone who has used our ‘old’ health department location knows that the space was dated and insufficient in size. The new location will have ample clinic space, storage space and a 50-plus capacity meeting room,” said Crabtree. The new facility will have 8,427 sq. ft. finished space with an unfinished basement of 2,900 sq. ft. which can be multipurpose. Also, Crabtree noted in an interview earlier this year that the new facility will have 10 exam rooms, whereas the older building only had four. This will allow for different types of clinics to be held simultaneously, allowing patients to get in for appointments earlier than in the past, Crabtree pointed out. He added that the new facility is HIPAA compliant. The increased space at the new facility has assisted the Wayne County Health Center in becoming more compliant with protecting patient privacy. Another improvement patients will see with the new facility is that it is in a better location. The land for the new health center was leased from the Wayne County Fiscal Court for 99 years for a grand total of $1, stated Crabtree. The new location also means there will be easier parking and access for the clients as well, Crabtree pointed out. The new health center also has an automatic blood pressure machine in the lobby for patients and other individuals to utilize, according to Crabtree. With all of the changes that clients will notice with the new facility, there are some things that won’t change—the health center will still be providing the wide range of services that was offered at the old location. The many services provided at the health center extend beyond the basic immunizations, which is what many people associate with the health department. Other services provided by the health center include: preventative clinical exams; family planning services; outreach programs such as HANDS, WIC, EPSDT; environmental services such as septic permits, food establishment inspections, public facility inspections, rodent control, etc.; education programs such as Tobacco Cessation, Abstinence, Reducing the Risk, Arthritis, and Nutrition and Physical Activity for schools and community; and bioterrorism planning. A grand opening for the new Wayne County Health Center is planned at a later date, but the details have not yet been finalized, noted Crabtree. At that point, interested individuals will have the opportunity to see the new facility. “I would like to again thank the local health board for its on-going efforts toward the completion of this project and the Wayne County Fiscal Court for the land,” stated Crabtree. “We have a facility the citizens of Wayne County can be proud of. I encourage everyone to stop by and take a look.” Add a comment |
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