New Bedford Community Health getting bigger - and better - on Purchase Street
NEW BEDFORD — New Bedford Community Health has purchased the former Rite Aid pharmacy building on Purchase Street for an expansion to improve services.
The building, which abuts the health center property at 874 Purchase St., went up for sale last November when Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The acquisition follows the health center's purchase of the former Bamboo Garden restaurant building next door in November for $500,000 to expand the health center.
New Bedford Community Health Chief Executive Officer Cheryl Bartlett said they closed on the Rite Aid purchase last week for $930,000.
Purchase will provide extra space, improve services
She said they're currently cramped — the center provides medical and health-related services to 23,000 people per year over 80,000 visits. It also employs almost 300 people.
The new purchase will add another 11,000-square-feet of usable space to the center.
Right now there's a months-long appointment wait list. This will help.
"We're going to have more exam rooms per medical provider so we can be more efficient in how we see people. It probably won't be that we serve a lot more people, but that we serve people better and more often."
Extra space will help with the bottom line
That will help with Medicaid, too, which pays more based on quality metrics. That generally involves seeing patients more often to provide preventative health care.
"They want you to keep people healthier so they don't get sick and go to the hospital."
Over 60% of the center business is through Medicare.
About half of the center's revenue comes through state and federal grants. All people are provided services regardless of their ability to pay.
Get in the know: Gov. Healey spreads the word about mental health care availability in New Bedford visit
Existing tenants will not be affected
The three existing tenants with frontage on William Street will not be affected by the purchase.
The rehabilitation work will cost $3 million to $4 million and take an estimated three years, Bartlett said.
Focus on Bamboo Garden work first
They're going to focus on completing the Bamboo Garden rehabilitation first, which will take about a year.
Bartlett said they're currently waiting for the permits to begin demolition of the former restaurant's interior, as well as finalizing the design work.
"Things are going along great," Bartlett said. "I'm really excited."
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford Community Health buys Rite Aid building to better services
