A Bronx health center that’s been serving the community for more than a century is getting a major boost.
Union Community Health Center in Mount Hope has received a $1.15 million federal grant to expand its dental wing and shorten patient wait times.
The center currently operates just six exam rooms, forcing many patients to wait months for appointments. Site Director Dr. Joseph Lopinto says the funding will allow the public clinic to take over an entire floor and add at least four new dental chairs.
“Instead of patients waiting two months for a follow-up appointment, now we’ll be able to see them within 30 days,” Lopinto said.
The expansion will begin within the next two months and include upgraded exam rooms with new dental technology. Lopinto says renovations will happen in phases to ensure appointments aren’t disrupted.
Union Community Health Center serves more than 38,000 Bronx residents each year, many of whom rely on Medicare or Medicaid.