AUSTIN, TX - (May 27, 2010) - The Seton Family of Hospitals has awarded Lone Star Circle of Care (LSCC), a federally qualified community health center, more than $3 million in grants to sponsor a regional pediatric primary care network, to be named Dell Children's - Circle of Care Pediatrics.
"This innovative collaboration establishes pediatric clinics linked to pediatric specialists, subspecialists and the only free-standing pediatric specialty hospital in Central Texas, Dell Children's Medical Center," said Bob Bonar, president and chief executive officer, Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas.
The clinics will provide greater access to high-quality health care for underserved children in Williamson County. The grant will fund two new pediatric clinics opening this summer, one in Cedar Park and the other in Hutto, furthering the creation of a strong regional pediatric network. Three existing LSCC pediatric clinics in Round Rock and Georgetown will have their names changed to Dell Children's - Circle of Care Pediatrics.
"It's estimated that more than 18,000 children in Williamson County are uninsured and at least that many are enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP," said Pete Perialas, Jr., chief executive officer, Lone Star Circle of Care. "These are patients that have difficulty obtaining access to a primary care medical home. This regional pediatric network answers that need with five clinics in Williamson County providing a combined capacity to serve 40,000 children each year."
"Starting with the two new clinics located in Cedar Park and Hutto, these most recent grants are part of a broader plan to establish additional pediatric clinics throughout Central Texas over the next several years," said Mark Hazelwood, president and chief executive officer, North Market, Seton Family of Hospitals.
Earlier this year, LSCC opened a multi-service clinical hub in the Texas A&M Health Science Center in Round Rock located near Seton Medical Center Williamson. The facility includes six health clinics operated by LSCC and sponsored by Seton. The clinics provide primary health care and preventative services with special regard for the underserved population.
Over the past two years, Seton has awarded grants totaling more than $5 million to Lone Star Circle of Care for the development of clinics in Central Texas. To reflect the collaboration among Seton and LSCC, the non-pediatric clinics at the Texas A&M Health Science Center and A.W. Grimes Medical Offices-an LSCC family practice clinic in Round Rock-will also have the Seton - Circle of Care brand.