Press Releases
PRESS RELEASE: Heart of Florida Health Center Awarded Funding to Provide Adult Dental Services
Ocala, FL, June 28, 2016 – Heart of Florida Health Center, has been awarded $350,000.00 federal dollars that will allow it to add Adult Dental Care to its scope of services, this fall at its Central site at 1025 SW 1st Avenue in Ocala.
Heart of Florida Health Center (HFHC), the largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Marion County, has been providing general dentistry for county pediatric patients since 2011, having expanded those services within the last year. Keeping with its mission to improve the overall health status of Marion County residents, adult dental services has always been on the radar and a top priority of the HFHC Board to obtaining funding to provide this much needed service. “As identified in the 2015 Marion County Health Needs Assessment, access to dental care is lacking in our community for low income individuals,” said Thomas Buss, HFHC Board Chair.
Rich Mutarelli, HFHC CEO, added, “These grant funds will enable Heart of Florida Health Center to expand oral health care services and allow for full-time onsite dental professionals to care for our adult patient population. Oral health is a key component of overall health.”
HFHC is one of twenty health centers in Florida (one of only three in Central Florida) awarded funding by Health and Human Services (HHS) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
“The funding this grant so graciously provides, will do major justice to our underinsured and uninsured adult patients who so desperately seek better access to quality and affordable dental care,” said Ayana Williams DDS, HFHC Dental Director.
About Heart of Florida Health Center
Heart of Florida Health Center is a federally qualified nonprofit health center (FQHC) founded in 2009 as a successor to Community Health Services Inc. Its mission is to improve the overall health status of Marion County residents by providing quality primary medical, dental and mental health services. HFHC has eight (9) sites: Belleview, Central, Dunnellon, East, Reddick, SW-Marion Oaks, Ocala West, Maternity, and Pediatric Dental location.
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Heart of Florida Health Center
Administrative Office
203 E. Silver Springs Boulevard, Ste., #101
Ocala, FL 34470
Heart of Florida Health Center, recognized nationally for achieving highest Level III Patient Centered Medical Home Status and as a Quality Leader in the top 30% Clinical Outcomes, vision is to be the provider of the highest quality, affordable, patient-centered primary health care in Marion County.
