Central Health board debates HT’s plan for clinic,
Center at Huston-Tillotson University to open in August.
After a couple of Central Health board members questioned whether a health clinic is needed at Huston-Tillotson University, a majority agreed to spend up to $615,433 to furnish and equip it.
That recommendation won’t be final until it’s ratified at the board’s next meeting, May 6.
The 14,704-square foot clinic is opening in late August in a part of East Austin that is being gentrified and lies within a mile of another clinic run by CommU-nityCare, which receives property tax support from Central Health.
“Did we think there was a gap in services?” asked board member Lynne Hudson, who also wanted to know to what extent the need was assessed.
“I think we have to do more than this,” considering the East Austin is “woefully under-served,” said Larry Wallace, Central Health’s chief operating officer. He added that Huston-Tillotson has spoken of the need for a clinic since 2008 and approached Central Health.
“But somehow for seven years we have been able to do without it?” Hudson said.
Board Member Cynthia Valadez said that not long ago the facility was described as a mental health clinic. Now, it’s bigger and locating in an area she called “fully gentrified.” Central Health’s mission is to provide care to those who need it most.
The discussion unfolded at Central Health’s Budget and Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night. All nine members of the board may attend, but the full board must ratify committee recommendations. That vote was six in favor, with Valadez and Dr. Guadalupe Zamora abstaining. Clarke Heidrick left before the vote.
“I think it’s going to be a great addition to our clinic system,” said Board Member Tom Coopwood.
The Sandra Joy Anderson Community Health and Wellness Center will be at the corner of Chalm- ers Avenue and 11th Street. It didn’t launch until Huston-Tillotson alumna Ada Collins Anderson, a civil rights activist and mother of the deceased woman for whom the clinic is named, donated $3 million.
CommUnityCare CEO George Miller said the need for behavioral and other services will come together at the clinic with help from the University of Texas Dell Medical School and Austin Travis County Integral Care, an agency that provides behavioral health services. The clinic will help train medical students. Further, UT plans to contribute half of the salary of a psychiatric leader at the clinic, as well as fund behavioral health research there.
A goal is to increase the number of health care providers who have expertise with diverse commu- nities, said Dr. Clay Johnston, dean of the medical school. He also hopes to inspire students at the historical black college to consider a career in health.
UT will invest close to $3 million over five years, he said.
The city of Austin has contributed $544,000, mostly for design and site-related work, spokeswoman Carole Barasch said. The building’s parts are being made elsewhere and will be assembled on site, Huston-Tillotson spokeswoman Linda Jackson said.
CommUnityCare estimates its first-year operating costs at $3.3 million. When it expands from three to seven health providers, the cost will rise to $3.9 million, Miller said.
CommUnityCare is seeking a federal grant of $150,000 for equipment and a grant for $400,000 to help fund operations.