Stimulus Working to Bring Health Care to Rural ND
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August 10, 2009
McCLUSKY, N.D. - Thanks to money from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, North Dakotans who depend on Community Health Care Centers are now seeing actual brick-and-mortar changes. Faye Hagen, interim CEO at Northland Community Health Center, McClusky, says her center applied for and received capitol improvement program funds to upgrade the facility, which was built in the 1960s.
"We wanted to make the doors more handicapped accessible, the entry more handicapped accessible, put in a bathroom and just make it more workable, so that we can work with the patients coming in to see us."
She says health care reform is not just about covering the uninsured or under-insured, but making sure rural people have access to care.
"Access is our goal; the goal for our community health centers in the rural areas is just to be there for an aging population."
As part National Health Center Week, the National Association of Community Health Care Centers is providing a website where people can see how stimulus money is being spent to expand care and create jobs. The URL is www.nachc.com.