9434 Hospital Ave.
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ESRHS HistoryEastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc. became a reality in 1975 when a group of committed and concerned citizens had a vision and mission to improve the health care of the Eastern Shore. The Shore had one of the highest infant mortality rates in the state and an elderly population at 20% (twice the state’s average). In addition, there were only four physicians in Accomack County to serve 30,000 residents. Three of these physicians wanted to retire. Eastern Shore Rural Health received a Rural Health Initiative Grant, selected a Board of Directors, and was incorporated by the state in 1976. The $100,000 grant was used to open a rural medical center in Onley, VA, on July 19, 1976 with 2 physicians, 2 nurses, 2 business staff and 1 director. The first day we saw 9 patients. The Onley facility was later sold to a National Health Scholar Corp. physician. It also became apparent that Northampton County was in desperate need of affordable and accessible health care, as over 27% of the county’s population was below 200% of poverty (with 41% of children below poverty), a low literacy level and a large elderly population. Recognizing the need to provide health care in both counties, the Board of Directors changed the name of the corporation to Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc.
Atlantic Community Health Center
Atlantic is in need of additional space. Eastern Shore Rural Health rents The Fox Building, which is adjacent to the center. Enabling services such as health education, pharmacy assistance and outreach workers are housed in the Fox Building. These enabling services, and translation services are also offered at each of our five medical centers. Bayview Community Health Center Again, Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc. answered the need for health care when the only physician south of Nassawadox retired, leaving the area with no physician. In 1985, we opened the Bayview Community Health Center serving lower Northampton County. As with all of our centers, we outgrew the space and thus added 2,000 square feet in 1994. Bayview currently employs 3 providers.
Chincoteague Island Community Health Center Franktown Community Health Center Adult patients were added to the practice at Franktown in October, 2003. Now called Franktown Community Health Center, the facility houses 2 pediatricians, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and 2 family practice physicians. The Franktown Community Health Center is the facility which has undergone the most recent renovations and expansion. Congressman Ed Shrock (an advocate of community health centers) had visited Eastern Shore Rural Health centers on several occasions and sponsored us for a Healthcare and Other Facilities Grant in the amount of $344,456. This project was initially planned to be simply the addition of some dental operatories, however once severe water damage was found to one wing of the building, it quickly became a much larger project. An updated lab, nurses’ station, expanded medical records area, staff room and 9 medical exam rooms were all added to Franktown, with the renovations completed in July 2006. The dental wing of the building was rebuilt to include 6 dental operatories, a dental waiting area, a panoramic x-ray and office space. A new roof was placed over the entire facility. Onley Community Health Center ESRHS has plans to build a new Onley Community Health Center located on Badger Lane in Onley. This will be a new, state of the art facility with dedicated family practice, internal medicine, pediatric and corporate contract wings. If you are interested in making a donation to the Onley Community Health Center building fund, please contact the Development Office at 757-414-0400 or email Jeannette Edwards, Director of Human Resources and Development at jre@esrh.org. Electronic Medical Records
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In 1981, The Atlantic Community Health Center was established in a small, rented building. It soon became apparent that the practice was growing quickly and additional room was needed. A modern 5,000 square foot facility opened in 1987. With funds from the Virginia Health Care Foundation, 2,500 square feet were added to the facility. The center currently has 14 exam rooms, with 6 FTE providers including a part time pediatrician and a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Atlantic and Onley are our two busiest centers.
When the Shore’s only private practice pediatrician left the Shore, we worked with Shore Memorial Hospital to recruit a pediatrician and thus the Children’s Health Center (located in Franktown, VA) was established in 1984. We quickly outgrew the original space (which was previously a furniture store) and the Board made a financial commitment to borrow $300,000 to build a new 4,000 square foot facility, which was completed in 1990. Our pediatricians (located at Franktown, Onley and Atlantic) currently see 90% of the children on the Shore and provide 24 hour/ 7 day per week hospital call.
