Impoverished Families In East Travis County Get New Health Center

TRAVIS COUNTY, TX — Health officials have opened a new health center in the Greater Hornsby Bend area in eastern Travis County — a historically under-served community with a growing number of families living in poverty, officials said this week.

The collaborative effort in opening the center involved Central Health and CommUnityCare Health Centers, officials said on Thursday. Already, the center at 14312 Hunters Bend Rd. on Monday welcomed its first patients with offerings of primary care, preventive care, vaccines, lab services, chronic disease management and limited pharmacy services.

The center also has a flexible space for other health services like behavioral health and/or health coverage enrollment.Residents can schedule appointments on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Statistics on poverty in the targeted area speak to the health center's need. Projections indicate there will be 476 families in poverty in the Greater Hornsby Bend area by 2022 — 17 percent of the population, health officials said. By comparison, 12 percent is the overall average of families living in poverty in the county, officials noted.

The health center is located next to Travis County Emergency Service District 4. The first week of medical appointments began on Friday, Feb. 14, with patients seen between the hours of 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., officials said.