North Florida health care groups share in grant from Florida Senate

Four North Florida health care organizations, including the hospital in Port St. Joe, were awarded $3.2 million dollars in primary care funding to help them serve poor families.Sacred Heart Hospital in Gulf County and the Bay County Health Department in Panama City will each receive $1.1 million dollars. 

The Walton County Health Department will be awarded $750,000 and the Escambia Community Clinic is in line to get $294,000.

The groups receiving awards are required to match state funds with local dollars or in-kind services.

The funding comes from an initiative in the Florida Senate to provide a lower cost alternative than the emergency room for non-insured and Medicaid patients with health problems.

The money will help the Sacred heart Hospital in Port St. Joe hire two additional physicians, two registered nurses and a health educator. 

A pharmacy assistance program will also be funded by the grant.

The Bay County Health Department will use its funding to expand its clinic facilities, add an emergency room diversion program, and employ additional physicians and nursing personnel.

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments