THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 4, 1997 TAG: 9701040292
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAT DOOLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 37 lines
The Chesapeake Health Department has received a $97,500 grant to treat poor and uninsured adults at the South Norfolk Health Center this year.
The money, awarded by the Virginia Health Care Foundation, will be used to increase services and the availability of medications for patients with long-term, chronic illnesses such as diabetes and arthritis, said Peg DeBender, clinic supervisor.
The East Liberty Street center serves ``a huge segment of the population that's trying to do well that doesn't have insurance,'' she said.
Most of the center's patients are working or semi-retired. They must be over 35 to qualify for care.
By adding three part-time positions, a physician, a nurse and a nutritionist, the center will be able to help about 100 more patients this year than last, DeBender said.
The center also will provide some patients with medications, such as insulin, she said.
Last year, 550 patients made more than 4,000 visits to the center, DeBender said. About 1,500 patients are on its roster.
South Norfolk is home to about 9,700 adults over 35, DeBender said.
A 1990 survey by the Virginia Center of Health Statistics showed 21.7 percent of South Norfolk's residents are under the federal poverty level, DeBender said.
South Norfolk is ``medically underserved,'' DeBender said, with one full-time family physician for the area.
The health center was opened in 1987 on Campostella Road. Since May 1995, the center has shared quarters with a state health clinic for family planning, pediatrics, immunizations and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Most of the center's $590,000 annual budget is provided by the city.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE HEALTH CENTER GRANT