GAINESVILLE - Hall County Commissioners learned at a work session Monday afternoon that the new clinic and pharmacy for county employees should be open by the first of the year.<br />
<br />
County Human Resources Director Bill Moats told commissioners that renovations of the old East Hall library branch are on schedule. <br />
<br />
Tentative opening date is January 5, 2015.<br />
<br />
"I say tentative only because we've got DEA inspections that have to be done, FDA inspections that have to be done," said Moats. "Those should start in the next week once we have cabinetry in." <br />
<br />
The county is using inmate labor to install drywall, run electrical wire, paint and otherwise revamp the old library into the new HCG Family Health Center.<br />
<br />
The health center will be available to all Hall County employees, retirees and dependents, including children over the age of 2, as long as they are on the county's insurance plan. <br />
<br />
Moats said a pharmacist has already been hired.<br />
<br />
"The pharmacist comes to us with about nine or 10 years of experience out of a major retail pharmacy, so we're excited to have this person on board," said Moats.<br />
<br />
He said a physician should be hired in the very near future, possibly as early as this week.<br />
<br />
County commissioners first considered the creation of the employee health center in August after Moats told them that health care costs were escalating rapidly. He estimated at the time that opening a clinic and pharmacy for county employees could save the county as much as $400,000 per year. <i>(See story linked below.)</i><br />
<br />
Moats told commissioners Monday if employees will use the HCG Family Health Center and avoid Urgent Care and similar facilities, not only will the employees save money, but also the county will see cost savings.<br />
