LaPorte Health Center Begins Expansion

The La Porte Hospital Community Health Center (CHC) was the site of a groundbreaking afternoon for a $1.2 million expansion within the next year that will increase the size of the facility and services offered to the community.

La Porte Regional Health System President and CEO Michael Haley announced the plans for new building construction at a 15-year anniversary celebration along with about 50 attendees.

“One of La Porte Regional Health System’s priorities is to enhance the health of the communities we serve by encouraging wellness and prevention, increasing education and awareness and making access to healthcare easier for those individuals and families with unmet needs. Today’s announcement certainly works towards fulfilling that priority in a very big way,” Haley said Thursday.

The La Porte Hospital CHC affords access to medical services for individuals who are challenged with low income or lack of insurance. The CHC offers prescription drug assistance, physical exams, diagnostic imaging services and gynecological exams to qualifying La Porte County residents. In addition, La Porte County Dental Services provides dental care to those who are financially challenged.

The expansion is made possible through the generous support of La Porte Regional Health System and the La Porte Hospital Foundation, which assisted in securing a $500,000 capital improvement grant from the Indiana State Department of Health, Office of Primary Care.

The center, located at 400 Teegarden St. in La Porte, shares a 4,000 square foot space with La Porte County Dental Services. Construction on the new building, to be located next to the current center, kicked off on Thursday. Once completed by October 2009, the CHC will measure at an estimated 5,000 square feet. The extra space will include six total exam rooms, a lab room, a larger Indigent Drug Program room and a large classroom for educational programs and support groups.

La Porte County Dental Services will expand into the entire current building upon completion, allowing staff to easily care for more patients on a timelier basis. The dental space will include four dental exam rooms, three hygienist exam rooms and a dedicated lab area.

In addition, the CHC will begin accepting Medicare and Medicaid assignment in 2009.

La Porte Mayor Kathy Chroback, in attendance on Thursday, said, “With the economy in a crisis that is worldwide, our community desperately needs the Community Health Center. Nearly a quarter of the citizens of La Porte County lack health insurance. Thanks to the diligence of the La Porte Hospital Foundation, this facility will be expanded to meet some of those needs.”

“We as a community are always judged by the quality of our healthcare,” Chroback continued. “This expanded facility will make a significant difference in the health of our community.”

The expansion was necessary to accommodate an increasing patient demand, CHC Director Sandy Behrens said. Patient visits to both clinics totaled 11,695 in 2007. In addition, the Indigent Drug Program dispensed $651,000 worth of free medications to community members last year.

“The need is growing,” Behrens said. “We want to provide affordable care and social services with dignity and compassion to all those who need help.”

From its humble beginnings in 1993 with four employees located inside a 2,000-square foot building, the CHC has continued to provide quality medical care to La Porte County individuals with low income and no health insurance throughout the years. The center doubled in size with the addition of La Porte County Dental Services in 1999, which provides quality dental care to children and adults with low income and no dental insurance.

Support for the CHC is provided by the La Porte Hospital Foundation, La Porte Regional Health System and other dedicated partners.

Source: La Porte Regional Health System