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Health Concern Consolidating Downtown; York Health Corp. Will Pay $2 Million to Buy and Renovate a George Street Building.

Posted on: Friday, 10 December 2004, 00:00 CST

For some time, York Health Corp. has been unable to accept more medical or dental appointments because its downtown York health center has been out of space.

On some days, patients have lined up outside 132 S. George St. for their chance to see a doctor or dentist but then have to shuttle off for other services at one of York Health Corp.'s three other city locations.

That's about to change.

York Health Corp. has a $2 million plan to purchase and renovate a four-story downtown office building at 104-126 S. George St. Settlement is expected at the end of the month with Waypoint Bank, which is now owned by Sovereign Bank.

Once the project is completed this summer, York Health Corp. will have its medical, dental, nursing, administrative and social service programs consolidated at one location, said Jennifer Englerth, executive director of York Health Corp.

"We wanted to create a one-stop shop. This move allows us to consolidate," she said.

York Health Corp. is a federally qualified community health center charged with providing medical, dental and support services to the community, regardless of their ability to pay.

Englerth, who became executive director in July, said she quickly learned that the medical services were booked, with no more room to add staff. The medical building at 132 S. George St. was serving nearly 5,000 patients, accounting for nearly 20,000 visits a year.

In searching for a new location, Englerth said she demanded a building with space for future needs, parking and a downtown location. The South George Street site was also "office ready," requiring few renovations, she said.

Once settlement takes place, an architect will work with staff to come up with a layout with good flow, Englerth said.

The medical and dental offices will be on the second floor and the administrative and other offices on the upper floor. Currently, the administrative offices and social services are on the seventh floor of 18 S. George St., while the Nurse

Family Partnership is at 344 W. Market St. The current medical center at 132 S. George St. is for sale.

The former York Federal offices, which were in the first floor of the new location, will be leased to another health-care provider. The York Daily Record/York Sunday News will keep its newsroom on the first floor of 122 S. George St. A newsroom has been in the building since 1996.

The newspaper's lease expires in May 2006, said Publisher Fred Uffelman. There are no immediate plans to move, he said.

York Health Corp. will continue to operate a community health center at the Hannah Penn Middle School after the move.

York Health Corp. has been in existence for 34 years but is often considered the less visible, forgotten community provider, Englerth said. The new location will give the York Health Corp. "greater visibility," she said.

"This will be a great way to reestablish ourselves after our long history in the community," she said.

Reach Mike Ho

Reach Mike Hoover at 771-2088 or mhoover@ydr.com.

QUOTE: We wanted to create a one-stop shop.' JENNIFER ENGLERTH,

DIRECTOR OF YORK HEALTH

Source: York Daily Record

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