African American Museum receives slave baptisms, inducts Bishop Fabre
October 3, 2018
Emergency system test set for 1:18 p.m. today
October 3, 2018
Teche Action Clinic CEO Dr. Gary Wiltz said Terrebonne Parish leaders have a, “deep regard,” for the health and welfare of their constituents.
Wiltz took time out to publicly praise Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove and the parish council, for the council’s vote to hire an architectural firm to design a new public health unit.
Last week, the Terrebonne council awarded a $1.6 million contract to the Craig C Hebert firm of Houma, to design a 7,400-square-foot health unit, which will be constructed next to Teche Action Clinic, at 1014 West Tunnel Blvd.
Teche Action Clinic is Terrebonne Parish’s first FQHC or Federal Qualified Health Center. The clinic operates a second location, at 189 Mozart Drive in Dulac.
There are more than 9,000 community health centers nationwide, including a third in Terrebonne Parish, operated by the Start Corporation. The community health centers are called FQHC’s because at least 30 percent of their budget is comprised of federal dollars.
The two Teche Action Clinics in Terrebonne Parish offer internal medicine, mental health, and WIC. The site on Tunnel Blvd offers Dental, Pediatric Dental, and a Pharmacy, while the Dulac site offers pediatrics.
Wiltz said Teche is “giving up the land” for the public health unit, so that it can work alongside “an incredible partner.”
The health unit and the community center will have a combined mission, to address
and access the population health of all of the community, as well as the social determinants of health in the parish.
“This really is a partnership – the new public health model of a community health center partnering with the public health unit,” he said.
“Once the health unit is constructed, we will continue to provide WIC services, but from there instead of inside our clinics. We will also hold classes in a joint community education room. However, we will not be managing the public health unit.”
Wiltz said the parish architect will work with the state architect, in order to design and construct the new facility. He said the present site at 600 Polk Ave was constructed in the 80s.
“The council vote just goes to show you the quality of leadership that exists in this parish. The leaders here need to be commended,” he said.
Terrebonne Parish Councilman John Navy said the parish collects an annual 1.66-mill property tax millage for public health maintenance and construction projects.
“This is a great opportunity for the residents of Terrebonne Parish. Our present public health unit is roughly 25 years old, and the building has been through a few hurricanes,” Navy said.
Terrebonne Councilwoman Arlanda Williams said she has been working on this project during the past 13 years of her tenure on the parish council.
“This is step in a positive direction, into building a community health complex for Terrebonne Parish,” Williams said.
“I believe this is something I can check off in my box of things I had wanted to accomplish. It’s been many, many years in coming.”
“This is going to give the citizens of Terrebonne Parish a great opportunity, we will all be able to join together to build a healthier Terrebonne parish,” she said.
Navy said the parish health unit and Teche is a sure “win-win” for Terrebonne Parish.
Early last month, the state’s top physicians Dr. Rebekah Gee, state Secretary of Health and Hospitals and Dr. Alex Billioux, assistant state secretary, toured both facilities.
Gee called Teche Action Clinic CEO Dr. Gary M. Wilts, M.D., a national, state and local leader in health care.
Billioux, hearing of the prospective news of the health unit relocating next to the clinic, said, “this will be a great example of a centralized regional health system, with great communication. It will work,” he said.
Dr. W.S. Chip Riggins Jr, medical director of the state Department of Health and Hospitals, said Teche has already been a great partner in serving the Women, Infants and Children of Terrbonne Parish through the WIC program.
“At any given time, the community is our patient. Yet, community health centers are at the forefront of what we are doing. Teche Action Clinic is a great partner to swim upstream with,” Riggins said.
