Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers
Western Wisc.When First Lady Michelle Obama announced the release of $851 million in grants to increase access to health care for millions of Americans, Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers was informed they would receive $450,000 of the money. The money was made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and comes as more Americans join the ranks of the uninsured due to the economic downturn and skyrocketing health costs. Mari Freiberg, Executive Director of Scenic Bluffs, said the intent of the grant is to support health center improvements. Freiberg notes Scenic Bluffs, which has a $6.2 million impact on the local economy, is poised to strengthen services and internal infrastructure to allow the Health Center to grow into the future. "As an organization that receives grants - federal, state and local - we are constantly seeking new funding to strengthen our mission to improve the health of our communities. While only one quarter of our operating budget is based on grants, these dollars allow us to grow and improve our delivery of primary medical, dental, behavioral health, chiropractic and pharmacy services." She noted the health center Capital Improvement Program (CIP) grant will be used to health technology infrastructure: to upgrade computers and digital x-rays at the Cashton dental site and to add digital x-ray to the Norwalk medical site. Freiberg notes the Health Center is fully electronic, utilizing electronic health records throughout all departments and this grant would allow investments in the necessary infrastructure to maintain this vital operating system. Freiberg added the investment will also fund basic facility needs at the health center -- remodeling the second floor of the 611 Broadway for more office space, repaving the Cashton and Norwalk parking lots and upgrading lab and other medical equipment. She said the grounds of the main campus on Front Street in Cashton are very large and there is interest in converting some of the property into more environmentally sustainable landscaping. Freiberg said this work would be done in conjunction with a summer jobs program offered through CouleeCap so much of the work will be covered already. "It's a neat way to tie in two federal opportunities to invest to improve," she said. -- Information provided by the health center
Patient Stories:
How I went from having a sinus infection to becoming a Community Health Center employee
"I had never heard of a Community Health Center. Then I suddenly came down with a debilitating sinus infection."
