People who need medical attention but are unable to afford it soon will be able to get that care in downtown Rockville.
Community Ministries of Rockville is under contract to create a permanent health clinic at 12 North Washington St., said Agnes Saenz, executive director.
The shopping center is owned by Federal Realty Investment Trust, which also leases the retail component of Town Square, located diagonally across the street.
Nonprofit Community Ministries has been operating its Mansfield M. Kaseman Health Program for the five years out of temporary locations. Named for the man who founded and served as director of the organization for 26 years, the program serves the elderly, homeless, uninsured, underinsured and poor in the county.
"We are delighted to be able to expand our health services into a full-time clinic," she said, adding there are some 128,000 uninsured people in the county and at least 8,000 of them reside in Rockville. "The need here is great."
The Kaseman Health Program, which will be renamed the Mansfield Kaseman Health Clinic when it opens in its new location, provides initial diagnosis, referral, prevention, counseling, training and education to its patients. It offers chronic care and medication, but is not designed for urgent care, Saenz said.
Buildout on the clinic, which will be located on the ground floor of the shopping center, is set to begin at the end of this month and is expected to be done by October, Saenz said. It will be open 40 hours a week and include eight examination rooms, each approximately 10 feet by 10 feet, and a waiting area.
The project will cost approximately $500,000, including build-out of the site and equipment, she said. The clinic is being designed by Planit Design Associates of Germantown and will be built by Spectrum Inc. General Contracting of Vienna, Va., she added.
Community Ministries is receiving funding for the clinic through a bond bill from the state, as well as Montgomery Cares, the Healthcare Initiative Foundation, the City of Rockville and Capital Information Technology Services.
The program is currently open 12 hours a week at Crusader Lutheran Church on Veirs Mill Road in Rockville in partnership with Montgomery Cares, which provides primary health care to medically uninsured, low-income adults, Saenz said. It is so popular that the waiting period to get an appointment is four to six weeks long, she said.
"Having a permanent medical site will make a big difference in the quality of life for county residents," she said.
When the clinic opens, Community Ministries should be able to serve about 100 adults per week compared to the 30 patients that are seen now, Saenz said. The organization also hopes to add more wellness education classes and programs and eventually offer behavioral health services.
The Rev. Sandra Cox Shaw, pastor of Crusader Lutheran Church, said the health program is "outstanding" and the community will benefit from a permanent clinic.
"I'm very thrilled for them because they have such great programs," she said of Community Ministries.
Mayor Susan R. Hoffmann said the clinic is "definitely needed" in Rockville.
"We're delighted to have this service in the city," she said. "It's a good location, there's plenty of parking and I think it will work very well."
