New Glades Health Department Facility On Way

Glades Commissioners Appoint Construction Manager

MOORE HAVEN, FL. -- The Glades County Board of County Commissioners Tuesday approved the contract negotiated with Wright Construction to provide Construction Management of the proposed Glades County Public Health Facility with costs covered by a $5.1 million federal grant. 
 
Hendry-Glades Health Deptartment Administrator Pat Dobbins thanked the Board, Staff, Legislators and others for perseverance in advocating for this large county building project. Dobbins said it would increase the ability of the Health Department to serve the health needs of everyone in the County. 

Dobbins told the commissioners features of the new clinic are not available in the current facility, including ADA compliance, complete patient confidentiality, while information technology improvements and video conferencing will be possibilities in the new building.  The facility will include a back auditorium that will also be available for community meeting use.  Ms. Dobbins is providing instrumental input with the construction planning.
 
Ms. Dobbins also noted that recent financial analysis revealed that 80% of the patients at Glades County Health Department were non-payers.  She said the increase in uninsured and under-insured clients is because patients from other counties without public health primary care physicians are coming to Glades County.  Public Health units decline service to no one. This increased patronage has strained the health department budget.
 
Fred Edman, President of Wright Construction, expressed his pleasure in providing construction management services for the project, stating he will be working pre-construction assisting the architect with level of design and specs to reduce costs.  He said a direct benefit of construction management would be in the lower maintenance costs because of the implementation of sustainable design factors.