Health clinics on the way

Central Health’s board voted last week to approve negotiations that could lead to the opening of two new health clinics in areas of East Austin that have long been identified as lacking appropriate health care services. The unanimous approval will likely lead to ground leases for emergency service districts in Del Valle and Hornsby Bend. The two deals are for varying lengths and rental rates, with the Del Valle clinic planned to be built along with a new fire station while the Hornsby Bend area would at first be served by a temporary health center while Central Health works on finding a location for a permanent facility. The clinics would utilize a variety of Central Health partners including CommUnityCare and the University of Texas School of Nursing to provide health care services, which are estimated to account for 80 percent of the service calls to fire departments in those areas. The new clinics are expected to open in 2019.