LCHC to receive $1.3M in stimulus

LYNN – Two community health centers in Lynn and Salem will receive $1.8 million in federal funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.The Lynn Community Health Center will get $1.3 million and the North Shore Community Health Center $551,910, according to U.S. Rep. John F. Tierney, who announced the grants Thursday.The Capital Improvement Program funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health and Resources Services Administration will be used to support construction and repair at both facilities.”Every dollar makes a difference in these tough economic times. It’s great to see our communities maximizing their share of available federal assistance under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,” Tierney said.Over 1,500 health centers across the country received funding to help with construction and repairs, while more than 650 centers got awards to purchase new equipment or health information technology systems. Another approximately 400 health centers received funding to adopt and expand use of electronic health records.The Lynn Community Health Center provides health services to one of every three Lynn residents. As a result of the $1.3 million grant, the facility will be able to construct a one-story building in their parking lot that will allow the center to expand its walk-in clinic and to use the current space to add two primary care providers. This will result in the center seeing an additional 1,600 patients and a total of 6,000 visits per year.”The LCHC is always looking to provide more primary care services to people in the community and these funds bring us a step closer to making that dream a reality,” said Executive Director Lori Berry.The North Shore Community Health, Inc. plans to double the space in its Peabody Family Health Center by adding 2,000 square feet, which would double the number of exam rooms from five to 10. “The ARRA funds will enable us to expand our primary health care services to additional residents of Peabody,” said Dr. Robert Hedershott. “The expansion of space in the PFHC will accommodate two additional health care professionals and represents an important step in improving the delivery of health care to our Peabody patients.”