Reed Announces $1 Million to Hire Providers & Expand Health Care Access at Thundermist Health Center in Woonsocket

Press Release

U.S. Senator Jack Reed today joined officials from the Thundermist Health Center in Woonsocket to announce a $1,000,000 federal grant to help significantly expand the health center, hire additional primary care providers, and offer increased access to necessary care for members of the community.

The federal grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Infrastructure Investment Program, will allow Thundermist to add 19 additional exam rooms to their existing facility in Woonsocket. The grant will also help Thundermist hire six additional primary care providers and serve an additional 4,400 patients with primary medical care and behavioral health care in a family medicine, patient-centered environment.

The Woonsocket community currently faces a significant population of children, adults, and seniors who are in need of care and lack sustained access to primary care services in their area. Currently the wait time for non-urgent new patients at this Thundermist facility is several months long, with as many as 70 patients per week attempting to join the practice. The facility expansion and additional providers enabled by the federal grant will help address these barriers to access.

"This federal grant will be a strong shot in the arm for Thundermist as they work to meet the growing demand for quality, primary health care in their community. Expanding and improving access to care is critical for public health and I commend Thundermist for their work to secure this federal funding to break down barriers to care for patients who need it most," said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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