March 8, 2018
(Austin) – Northeast Austin residents have more health care options as Central Health-funded CommUnityCare Health Centers expanded services at Turner-Roberts Recreation Center from one day a month to one day a week.
Located in the Colony Park neighborhood at 7201 Colony Loop Dr. in Northeast Travis County, the CommUnityCare clinic at Turner-Roberts Recreation Center is open Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. A nurse practitioner and support team will see patients by appointment only, offering primary care, routine screenings for blood pressure and glucose, ongoing chronic disease management, vaccinations, and specialty care referrals. Residents should call 512-978-9015 to schedule an appointment. Expanding clinical hours at Turner-Roberts Recreation Center is part of a larger strategy to create more access to health care to the eastern parts of Austin and Travis County.
“As health care needs throughout Travis County continue to evolve, CommUnityCare Health Centers in collaboration with Central Health and other partners is working to bring primary medical services closer to where people live,” CommUnityCare CEO Jaeson Fournier said. “Expanding our presence at the Turner Roberts Recreation Center is a great example of just that. We look forward to caring for more residents of the Colony Park neighborhood as a result of this initiative.”
Community Input
To ensure the community has a seat at the table when it comes to planning health service expansion in their neighborhoods, Central Health is forming advisory committees.
“Advisory committees play a critical role in our community engagement strategy,” Central Health President and CEO Mike Geeslin said. “Filling the health care void in our community requires good planning based on sound data plus ongoing input from the people who live in the community.”
More than 30 members serve on the advisory committee for the Colony Park neighborhood area, representing community partners and advocates, neighborhood associations, school districts, faith-based organizations, and elected officials.
The advisory committee is part of a larger coalition called the Eastern Travis County Health and Wellness Collaboration addressing challenges faced by residents of Del Valle, Manor, Colony Park and other underserved areas in Travis County. The collaboration started two years with Central Health, the City of Austin and Travis County.
“I applaud Central Health for really listening to the community and making sure their input is included as we effectively plan how to bring more health care to residents of Northeast Travis County,” said Travis County Commissioner Jeff Travillion, the only elected official currently participating in the Eastern Travis County Health and Wellness Collaboration. “This type of collaboration should be a blueprint for serving underserved populations. Co-locating at existing public facilities is a really good first step.”
More Health Care Services on the Way
Later this spring, Central Health and its partners will open the Northeast Health Resource Center on the campus of Volma Overton Elementary School, 7201 Colony Loop Drive. The center will offer non-clinic health and social services. The Austin Independent School District, Central Health, CommUnityCare, City of Austin Public Health, and Travis County Health and Human Services will provide services at Overton Elementary.
“The long-term solution is to build a new stand-alone health care facility as proposed in the City of Austin’s Master Plan for Colony Park,” Central Health Chief Administrative Officer Larry Wallace said. “The vision is to create a vibrant, full-service health center similar to Central Health Southeast Health & Wellness Center where our partners like CommUnityCare and Integral Care provide comprehensive health services, providing a one-stop health experience for our patients.”