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Tammy Frazier (left) and Shawn Kimble, LPN, check medical equipment in a new examination room of the Jacksonville Center dorm. 

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Floyd Community Health Center opening March 24

by Don Johnson

For most Americans, the cost of health care is an important financial consideration.  The reason is simple. According to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, such costs in the United States have increased at a pace of 6.8 percent a year for the past five years.
Some small relief may be on the way for Floyd County residents later this month when the Floyd Community Health Center, a non-profit health center, opens for business in the former dormitory at the Jacksonville Center for the Arts at 216 Parkway Lane South.
According to Patricia Moles, the organization’s operations manager, the Floyd clinic will open with limited services and hours on March 24. Initially, it will offer primary medical and preventive care for illness, physical exams, laboratory services and immunizations. Hours of operation and services will increase over time, she said.
“Patients will be seen only by appointment which can be made beginning March 10,” Moles said. “In the Floyd area, an appointment may be made by calling 745-9290. If there is no answer, you can call (276) 398-2292.”
The clinic, operated by the Laurel Fork Health Commission, Inc. becomes the non-profit’s third medical center serving patients in Floyd, Patrick and Carroll counties. Other clinics are the Tri-Area Health Clinic and Pharmacy in Laurel Fork and Ferrum Community Health Center and Pharmacy in Ferrum.
“We are pleased to become part of the Floyd medical community and grateful to the Jacksonville Center for allowing us to temporarily rent their dormitory building,” Moles stated.
“A Community Health Center provides health care services to everyone – all community residents have equal access, regardless of ability to pay, geographic location, residence, culture, age, sex or religion,” Moles reported.
“Floyd Community Health Center will use a sliding fee scale with discounts based on patient family size and income, in accordance with federal poverty guidelines, to ensure equal access to all community residents,” she said, adding that “Medicare, Medicaid, Anthem and most private insurances will be accepted.”
Moses said the center will initially be staffed by a medical doctor, two nurses and office personnel.
“We are pleased to announce that Lorrie French, M.D., will be joining the Floyd Community Health Clinic. Dr. French, her husband, Gary L. Stone, and children, Brittany and Garrett, reside in the Check area,” Moles reported.
Dr. French practiced medicine in Florida for more than 20 years before settling in Floyd County where she has been treating patients for the past two years.  She is a graduate of the University of Florida School of Medicine and West Virginia University. Dr. French currently volunteers with the Good Samaritan Hospice in Roanoke and the American Red Cross and is a member of Floyd Rotary International.
The Floyd Community Health Center is the newest expansion of Laurel Fork Health Commission, Inc., a non-profit organization governed by a volunteer board of directors comprised of community residents. Current board members are: Jack Russell, Gloria Hilton, Mary Dashiell, Jim Kieley, Aaron Brown, Roseanne Black, Eunafaye McAlexander, Sharon Parker and Hattie Mae Love.  Debra Shelor is the executive director.
The commission’s service area consists of parts of four contiguous counties: Carroll, Floyd, Patrick and Franklin. All are designated by the Bureau of Primary Health Care as being Medically Underserved Areas (MUA) and Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA).
In 2007, as part of the President’s Health Center Initiatives, 200 counties nationwide, including Floyd, were designated as High Poverty Counties in need of additional health care services.  The Bureau of Primary Health Care invited grant applications for new community health programs.
The Laurel Fork Health Commission recognized the need for additional access to healthcare services in Floyd County and applied for a grant, which was awarded in September 2007 for the start up and continuation of Floyd Community Health Center, Moles said.