HEALTH CARE Farrell awaits opening of nonprofit clinic

A 'state-of-the-art' facility should be ready for occupancy in December.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
FARRELL, Pa. -- The demand for low-cost health care continues to grow and the Primary Health Network Inc. is growing to help meet it.
The nonprofit community health center had a ceremonial groundbreaking Friday for what Susan Piccirilli, deputy director, referred to as "our flagship facility" in the former Farrell City Park on the Sharon-New Castle Road.
The 15,000-square-foot building, with a price of about $1.6 million, is already under construction and will be completed by December, said Jack Laeng, executive director.
Primary Health won't own it but will lease it from PBL & amp; Associates.
"I never expected PHN to be what it is today," Laeng said. "I thought we would just be small operation providing services to Sharon and Farrell."
The agency was founded in 1984 as the Farrell Health Center with just one doctor and two staff members.
Much growth
Today, it has 22 medical, dental and optometry sites in Mercer, Lawrence, Crawford, Butler, Beaver and Clarion counties and 204 full- and part-time employees. It is the largest nonprofit community health center in western Pennsylvania, Piccirilli said.
"Here we are 20 years later, and there is a growing need for our services," Laeng said.
The population of the region served by the agency is aging and that brings an increased demand on the health-care field, he said.
Furthermore, 20 percent of the population of that area is uninsured and most of those people have low incomes, he added.
More government funds
The federal government has aided in the growth of community centers by increasing funding for them over the past three years, Laeng said, adding that more health-care providers are joining Primary Health to have their practices managed.
Finally, the community appreciates the range of services such centers offer and seeks them out.
The new office will be a "state-of-the-art facility," he said, adding that the agency hopes to be able to erect similar facilities in all the counties it serves.
The agency will move its Farrell Primary Care and Farrell Dental Care offices into the new building, which will be home to five physicians offering family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology and pediatric services.
It also will have a certified midwife and several certified nurse practitioners.
Five dentists and three oral surgeons will provide care there and it also will house the University of Pittsburgh's cardiovascular Institute and eventually offer podiatry, surgery and otolaryngology services.
Meeting a need
"There was a need to have more of our services under one roof to accommodate the needs and growth that PHN is experiencing," said Bill Friedrich, executive deputy director.
"Our mission is to make quality health care available to all those in need by aggregating as many services as possible under one roof," he said.
Friedrich said the new facility is expected to create between 10 and 15 jobs as more doctors, dentists and other specialists join the network.