LISBON – The safety of patients has long been at the forefront of Community Action Agency of Columbiana County Inc. (CAACC’s) Health, Behavioral Health and Dental Centers’ services, and thanks to a recent COVID-19-related grant from the Federal Communications Commission, those safety measures will continue to grow through expanding telehealth options.
CAACC officials received word Wednesday from the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau of the grant in the amount of $376,191.
The FCC funding is one of several grants the CAA’s Health, Behavioral Health and Dental Centers have received in the last few months, some of which were telehealth centered during the coronavirus-related public health emergency.
Since April, CAACC’s centers and its providers have offered telehealth services via phone to patients, allowing those patients the option of staying safe in their homes while receiving the care and medications needed.
“This latest grant will allow CAACC to further advance our telehealth offerings for Health, Behavioral Health and Dental services,” said Thomas Andrews, CEO of CAACC. “As the Coronavirus started, with the assistance of the State of Ohio, CAACC quickly moved to offer telehealth services to assist patients during the state’s stay-at-home order. This new grant will allow us to further advance our services by upgrading our technology and continue to integrate telehealth into our patient care model.”
Some of the telehealth equipment to be purchased with the FCC funding will include desktop and laptop computers, as well as tablets, and telecommunications system upgrades. Funding also will support remote monitoring equipment for telehealth medical, dental, behavioral health and Medication Assisted Treatment services, along with women’s health assistance.
“Safety continues to be our top priority, for our patients and for all of our staff,” said Jenna Wonner, CAACC’s COO. “Being able to offer a safe experience through our telehealth services means we can help make the visits with our providers and counselors less stressful for our patients, and that’s a win.”
The FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program is providing $200 million in funding, appropriated by Congress as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (C.A.R.E.S.) Act, to help health care providers offer services to patients at their homes or mobile locations in response to the pandemic.
The Health, Behavioral Health and Dental Centers first received a 2020 Coronavirus Supplemental Funding for Health Centers Grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration in the amount of $62,954.
A second grant, HRSA’s Health Center Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (C.A.R.E.S.) Act Funding was awarded to the agency in the amount of $745,205.
CAACC’s officials have noted the five centers have remained open during the pandemic and are open weekdays for those who want to visit in person with their providers and counselors. Please note that all patients are asked to wear a mask when in the offices.
No walk-in service is being offered at this time due to COVID-19, and patients without an already-scheduled appointment and wanting to see a provider should call before coming.
To make an appointment with a medical provider, call 330-424-5686. Dental appointments can be scheduled by calling 330-424-4192.
Telehealth services also are available to patients with behavioral health needs.
“This new grant will allow us to purchase the technology needed to continue telehealth and telepsych beyond the pandemic,” said Dr. Jill Hendrickson, Director of Behavioral Health. “Our continued ability to provide telehealth and telepsych will increase access to medical, behavioral health, and dental services to residents of the county.”
Just call 330-386-7870 to schedule an appointment with a counselor or to talk with a medication management provider. And those dealing with addiction also have a telehealth option with CAA’s Medication Assisted Treatment program. An initial appointment done in office is required, but follow-up visits can be done using telehealth services. To set up a MAT appointment, call 330-386-7777.
The five CAACC Health, Behavioral Health, and Dental Centers are CAA Health and Behavioral Health Center at Lisbon, 7880 Lincole Place; CAA Dental Center at Lisbon, 38722 Saltwell Road; CAA East Liverpool Campus, Building #1, 16480 St. Clair Ave. and Building #2, 16494 St. Clair Ave.; and CAA Medical and Dental Center at Salineville, 103 W. Main St., Melhorn Building.