Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Assistance for Hurricane Response and Recovery Efforts (CARE) - NeoMed Center has been since 1992, operating under the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model since its ambulatory clinics and the clinical laboratory were fully accredited by JACHO in 2003. The corporation is deemed under the Federal Torts Claim Act. NeoMed Center is governed by a board whose composition is fully compliant with HRSA regulations, having more than 50% patient representatives of areas served. As per the 2022 UDS data, NeoMed served 44,704 patients, attending 135,482 clinical visits. The patient population was 43.3% male and 56.7%, female, with 24% being pediatric patients and 76% adults. 86% had income under 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), and 96% below 200% FPL. A very high 22% were uninsured, while 57% had the public Vital Health Plan (Medicaid); 11.4%, Medicare: and less than 10% had private insurance. This evidences NeoMed’s service to primarily low income and uninsured populations, having an extensive network of collaborating agencies developed over the years to provide supplemental support services. The organization’s service area is comprised of the six (6) municipalities, those of Gurabo, San Lorenzo, Juncos, Aguas Buenas, and Naguabo in the Eastern Health Region, and Trujillo Alto in the Metropolitan Region, all classified as a HPSA and MUA, having an average of 40% of their populations with income under the poverty level. NeoMed Center includes integrated primary, oral and behavioral health services in all its 7 sites (Gurabo with 2 clinics), and on-site laboratory and radiology/sonography, pharmacy offering 340B Drug Pricing Program discounts, and an ER at its main site, and two existing Medical/Dental Mobile Units. NeoMed Center Trujillo Alto is the largest site of the corporation with 25,326.78 SF, this facility was built in 1980 under current building codes for that time. At that time, it was not required that health facilities have a fire protection and suppression system, with the passage of time the new fire codes and permits for the use of health facilities requires that the facilities be renovated to comply with the new regulations and codes. Installing the fire protection and suppression system will ensure that the facility is safe for patients, employees, and visitors. In the facility we have an emergency room that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and on many occasions, it may happen that we have overnight patients with limited health conditions, who in case of fire cannot evacuate the facility by themselves. The construction of fire protection system (Project) will be divided into four stages; design, permit and endorsements, bid process, and construction activities and project close out. The Project duration will be 240 calendar days after HRSA Grant is notified and/or awarded. The A/E firm be responsible for the development of the preliminary design and final construction package within 45 calendar days after NTP. Geotechnical soil study, survey and as built of the existing building will be performed in concurrence with the design stage. Construction documents packages will be distributed to general contractors (GC) via Request for Proposal (RFP). The timeline of the RFP process will be 45 calendar days. After the GC is selected, and cost of the Project is established, the construction documents package will be filed to local and federal agencies for construction permit approval and endorsements. It is anticipated that the permit process will take approximately 30 calendar days. The construction process of the Project will be divided into two main activities described as follows. Activity number one will be the mobilization, site work, construction of water reservoir tank, siamese valve installation, and pump room construction. The second activity will be the installation of the fire protection system in the interior of the main building (clinic). NeoiMed Center is requesting $490,00 for a renovation and alteration project.
