WILDWOOD — A new health care center, which will be located at the city’s Housing Authority complex at 3700 New Jersey Ave., is scheduled to open in November.
CompleteCare Health Network received $1 million in federal grant money to establish the center in Wildwood, a community that has been federally designated as medically underserved. That designation means the town has too few primary care providers, a high infant mortality rate, high poverty and/or a high elderly population.
Plans for the center will be discussed during a public event scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the Housing Authority.
Emily Paul, spokeswoman for CompleteCare, said the agency received two grants to build the center from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration.
CompleteCare Health Network, a nonprofit health organization, provides primary medical, dental and behavioral health services at 18 locations throughout Cumberland, Gloucester and Cape May counties, including at four school-based offices.
Paul said the center will serve the entire community, particularly those considered underserved. It will also work with the Wildwood school district to provide care to students with parental consent.
She said CompleteCare operates a medical facility in Cape May Court House, but many of those treated come from Wildwood.
“We want to break down barriers to care,” she said, explaining many residents have difficulty finding transportation to the Cape May Court House location.
Wildwood School Superintendent Dennis Anderson said the city’s residents needed a health care option that is affordable.
“For years, we have been concerned about the lack of appropriate care for our students,” Anderson said. “This gives families a place to go both when they are sick and for preventive care.”
The school district has about 850 students, and of those 638 received reduced or free lunches, while an estimated 28 percent of the city’s population is uninsured.
The location in Wildwood, he added, would be convenient for many who can’t travel for care.
“It will be a real benefit to the community,” he said.
Contact Trudi Gilfillian:
609-463-6716
If you go
The public is invited to learn more about the CompleteCare Health Network and its planned Wildwood facility from 11 a.m. to noon today at the Wildwood Housing Authority, 3700 New Jersey Ave. Refreshments will be served.
