Hospital Construction/Re-Construction Plan

Gadsden County has an estimated population of 47,500. The Gadsden County Health Council has determined that an estimated 21.1% of Gadsden population, or 10,000 citizens, are uninsured or underinsured. Further, the Council has determined that access to healthcare services, even for insured persons, is severely limited since there are only 32 physicians practicing within the county. At the state rate of 279 physicians per 100,000 population, Gadsden County should have a total of 131 physicians. Gadsden County has no Dentist who take Medicaid and no specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Facing the above situation, the Health Council has determined that there is demonstrated need for a comprehensive and integrated primary healthcare system for the uninsured and underinsured residents of Gadsden County. The following sections provide the delivery mechanisms explored by the committee to service these targeted 10,000 individuals.

The first year member participation experience of health care plans for the uninsured and under-insured citizens which have been installed in Alachua, Hillsborough, Leon, Pinellas, and Duval counties indicates that only approximately twenty percent (20%) of the eligible citizens will present for care in the initial period. The Health Council anticipates that for the start up period, that twenty percent (20%) or 2,000 of the estimated 10,000 eligible uninsured and under-insured residents will participate.

Hospital Construction/Reconstruction

The need for a rural general acute care hospital in Gadsden County is well recognized throughout the County. The Board of County Commissioners, citizens groups, civic groups and citizens, all have diligently endeavored to re-open Gadsden Community Hospital.

Comprehensive Health Care for the Uninsured and the Hospital Construction/Reconstruction Plan provides for 1/3 of the plan proceeds annually ($578,000), to be pledged to support the borrowing of funds to construct/reconstruct Gadsden Community Hospital.

We Want Your Help

Below, you will find a link to read the proposal in its entirety. After reviewing it, we would love to hear your thoughts. Just come back to the website and leave your comments in the comment form, or send an email to Maximo Martinez at mmartinez [at] gadsdenhealth.info. We would like to thank you in advance for your time.

Click here to download the proposal. (PDF file)