Goshen Medical Center will benefit from Obama administration's stimulus money
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on March 31, 2009 1:46 PM
The Goshen Medical Centers in Faison and Goldsboro are going to get more doctors and support staff, thanks to almost $636,000 in federal stimulus money.
U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre announced Friday that Goshen, along with three other medical centers, would receive more than $1.2 million in grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help expand services and provide better access to health care. Goshen's money will be used to help those who are uninsured and homeless.
"Community health centers are on the front lines every day helping people," said McIntyre, who is a member of the Congressional Caucus on Community Health Centers. "These funds will assist them as they continue to provide health care to those in need. This is an investment in our citizens and our communities."
The money from the two-year grant will be deposited into a federally controlled account that Goshen will draw upon each month as needed, said Dr. Greg Bounds, Goshen's chief executive officer.
"We are thrilled to receive this federal investment to expand our medical capacity. While the money is intended to help stimulate the economy by creating new jobs, it will also help us better achieve our mission to provide for the health care needs of our people," he said.
Wayne and Duplin are among the worst in the state for uninsured populations, he said.
The money will be used to hire seven employees, including a physician and nurse at each location. Goshen will also hire an additional billing person and a collection person. Each of these new employees will work at the Faison site in the centralized billing department.
"We will also hire one data technician who will work in collaboration with billing staff to improve billing and reporting systems," he said.
Bounds said he has already started recruiting for the positions, and some new hires have already been identified.
He said he expects the grant will help Goshen serve 4,800 new patients.
The other three medical centers receiving money are Robeson Health Care Corporation (nearly $258,000), Stedman Wade Health Services (nearly $157,817) and New Hanover Community Health Center ($203,000).
The funds will come through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.