By Kyle LoJacono
Premier Community HealthCare Group’s pediatrics and dental services in Dade City are getting new buildings thanks to a $530,000 federal grant.
The two-stage construction project began a month ago when its building at 14025 Fifth St. was demolished. The structure was being used as a pharmacy and the new building will go in its place.
Premier spokeswoman Sue Hutson said the 7,300-square-foot facility will be the home for its family medicine and pediatrics center. The job is being done by Simpson Environmental, a Trilby-based firm, and should be completed by the fall.
“It’s been our goal at all of our facilities to provide a clean, safe, welcoming environment for our patients and staff, while ensuring they are optimally functional to support our efforts to provide a high quality of service,” said Kim Schuknecht, Premier CEO. “I’m thrilled we’ve received these funds to improve the Dade City facility to mirror the other Premier locations in Dade City and Zephyrhills.”
Hutson said once the first building is finished, the Doc Stanfield dental facility at 37944 Church Ave. will be partially replaced and remodeled.
“We planned to redo the dental building, but it’s more than 50 years old,” Hutson said. “Engineers looked at the building and said it was going to take more than renovation. It will also be expanded.”
The second part of the plan still needs to be approved by the city. Because plans are not set, there is no estimated cost, but is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2012. Both phases are being paid for by money from the Capital Improvement Program federal grant.
“The projects will let us give better and expanded services to our patients,” Hutson said. “We’ll have more exam rooms and a more efficient layout. Everything will be better.”
Additional parking will come with the construction, but no patient care will be interrupted during the job, Hutson said. She added the new buildings will have the same look as Premier’s other facilities in Dade City and Zephyrhills.
Dade City community development director Michael Sherman thinks there will be no problems with the plans to renovate and expand the dental facility.
“It’s a great organization that gives assistance to low-income families,” Sherman said. “We’re pleased they’re expanding.”
Premier is a nonprofit group that gives cost-effective healthcare for adult and children. It offers behavioral health, dentistry, gynecology, obstetrics, pharmaceuticals and other wellness programs throughout Pasco County.
For more information on Premier, visit www.premierhc.org.
