The Department of Health awarded grants to 17 health care providers throughout the state for community health care service expansion projects in rural and underserved areas.

“The need for innovative approaches to providing community-based health care services in our state is critical as we move forward with redesigning our state health care system, ”said LDH Secretary Dr. Fred Cerise.  “The agencies receiving these grant funds are paving the way for an improved health care system that provides quality, effective preventive and primary health care in rural and medically underserved communities.”

Grantees include Morehouse General Hospital, EXCELth, Inc., Partnership for Access to Healthcare, Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians, St. Charles Communtiy Health Center, City of Winnfield, Jefferson Community Health Care Centers, Richland Parish Hospital, Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center, Primary Care Providers for a Healthy Feliciana, Outpatient Medical Center, Inc., St. Gabriel Health Center, Abbeville General Hospital, David Raines Community Health Center, St. Francis Medical Center, Union General Hospital and The Multipractice Clinic.

The grants were awarded through the Bureau of Primary Care and Rural Health’s Community-based and Rural Health Program.  The $1 million program is funded through an appropriation from the Louisiana State Legislature.  Public or nonprofit health care  organizations located in rural areas, health professional shortage areas or underserved areas identified through legislation were eligible to apply for grants to fund health care projects.

The Bureau awarded grants ranging from $15,000 to $75,000.  Funded projects include federally qualified health center development, dental and mental health services, pharmacy access network development, electronic medical records, rural health clinic equipment purchase, diabetes education, school-based health center development, performance and quality improvement software, community health evaluation and a tracking program for Louisiana Family Medicine residents.

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