New Horizons Healthcare Breaks Ground on Community Health Center

ROANOKE, Va. — Nearly 100 people gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of New Horizons Healthcare’s $10.7-million community health center building. New Horizons Healthcare is a federally qualified health center that provides primary medical services to patients in the Roanoke area. The center offers access to a broad range of health and medical services, without regard to patient income or insurance status.

“Today’s groundbreaking event was energizing as well as emotional for current and former board members, staff and community partners who have worked so hard through the years to get us to this point,” says Linda Frye, Chief Operating Officer at New Horizons Healthcare.

The new building consists of 32,000-square-feet on two levels with spaces for adult and pediatric exam rooms. Also included are a dental clinic, behavioral health clinic, pharmacy, and a health-education area (consisting of a flexible meeting room that can be subdivided as needed, along with a catering kitchen and storage rooms.) The new building is designed to minimize heating and cooling operational expenses.

“We are pleased to be working on such a dynamic community project,” said Jeff Boehm, vice president for Howard Shockey & Sons, Inc., the general contractor. “Once the construction ramps up into full swing, we anticipate a daily average of about 50 workers on site.  A total of approximately 120 skilled construction workers will be involved during the building phase,” said Boehm.

Richmond-based architect Baskervill, with whom Shockey has successfully completed several other healthcare projects, is serving as the design-build partner on the project.

New Horizons Healthcare is one of only six centers in the state of Virginia to receive money through the federal Affordable Care Act, and is Virginia’s largest recipient of this particular grant resource. Approximately 98% of the project is being financed by Federal Capital Development Grant funds from the Health Resources and Services Administration as part of the Affordable Care Act, in the amount of $10,657,450; approximately 1% by CDBG/HUD Federal funds, in the amount of $121,500; and the 1% balance in the project funds will be financed by earned revenue.

Over the past 10 years, New Horizons has seen a significant and consistent rise in patient visits, from 4,300 visits in 2001 to more than 13,000 visits in 2010.

“With the new building, we will be able to increase the number of medical exam rooms for family practice and pediatrics, add a pharmacy and a dental clinic, and be able to expand our mental health services program,” said Eileen Lepro, Executive Director of New Horizons Healthcare.

The new facility is expected to open Sept. 30, 2012.

New Horizons Healthcare is a community health center. It provides high-quality, comprehensive and preventive healthcare for all citizens of the Roanoke area, including the underserved population. Visit http://www.newhorizonshealthcare.org/.

About Howard Shockey & Sons, Inc.
Established in 1896, Howard Shockey & Sons, Inc. provides design-build, general construction, construction management, and services in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. More information is available at http://www.howardshockey.com.