GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A new community clinic in downtown Green Bay is nearly complete.
Construction on the N.E.W. Community Clinic at 610 N. Broadway began last year. The $4.5 million clinic will provide medical and behavioral health care services to greater Green Bay residents who are uninsured or unable to afford medical care.
“N.E.W. Community Clinic has had a strategic plan to have a west side expansion project. That’s been going on for many years,” said CEO Kim Franzen. “[It] provides access to care to uninsured and under-insured community members here in Brown County…N.E.W. Community Clinic receives federal grant funding to supplement the cost of care for community members.”
Franzen says it’s the first time in the clinic’s 50-year history that it will have dedicated space for a behavioral health department.
“Our mission is to provide access to quality comprehensive care to the under-served in our community. Because of the way that we’re funded, we take care of you regardless of the ability to pay,” Franzen said. “We want you to come through our doors. We want you to be well. We want you to be healthy. We’re going to really look at your ability to pay, and it stops there. We really try to reduce the financial burden.”
Franzen also said its Mather Street location that serves the homeless population will be moving into the new clinic. It will go from a two-room operation to a seven-room operation.
“We go into the homeless shelters here in the community with the nurse practitioners, counselors, social workers for medical assistance and really take a collaborative team to provide care,” Franzen said.
Out of 264,000 people living in Brown County, about 8.5% of those people are living in poverty which is about 20,000 people.
The clinic sees about 5,000 people annually in its medical, dental and behavioral health programs and an additional 5,000 people are seen annually in its Women Infant and Children (WIC) program.
“We know that there are people in the community that are likely not receiving care. So this clinic really allows us to expand our services,” Franzen told WTAQ News. “We also have social workers that will sit down with you and help understand what are the barriers for you in your day to day life. Is it transportation? Is it food? Is it ‘How do I pay my bills?'”
The facility opens to patients on Thursday, June 2nd.
Comments