New facility will create jobs and increase access to health care

BANGOR, ME – Today, Congressman Mike Michaud was joined by Dr. Mary Wakefield, Administrator for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC) President Reverend Bob Carlson for a tour of PCHC’s new Brewer facility, which is scheduled to be officially opened on June 29th.  Photos from today’s tour can be found here.

“It’s great to see the progress that Reverend Carlson and his team have made,” said Michaud.  “I am pleased that Dr. Wakefield was able to join us for a tour of this impressive new facility.  While it will create new local jobs, the effects of this clinic will be felt for many years to come through increased access to affordable health care in the region.”

PCHC received a Recovery Act grant from HRSA in 2009 to expand from their current 2,000 square foot facility to the new 28,500 square foot facility.  The project will result in the creation of 16 new full time jobs, and PCHC expects to add 4 more jobs before the end of the year.  The new facility will offer primary care, pharmacy, lab, x-ray, physical therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral health and psychiatry, podiatry and walk-in care seven days a week.  This new facility will allow PCHC to provide access to care to a significant population on the easterly side of the Penobscot River.

In addition to the tour, Michaud arranged meetings with Dr. Wakefield and Maine health care providers so that they could have their concerns addressed and their questions answered about the implementation of the new health care reform law.  These meetings are a follow up to similar meetings Michaud held in August of 2009 with Maine health care providers, small businesses, and consumers.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, HRSA is the primary federal agency for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable.  Comprising six bureaus and 13 offices, HRSA provides leadership and financial support to health care providers in every state and U.S. territory.  HRSA grantees provide health care to uninsured people, people living with HIV/AIDS, and pregnant women, mothers and children. They also train health professionals and improve systems of care in rural communities.