Community Health for the Florida Keys

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If you've read our news page, or if you're a patient of ours, you already know that starting May 1st, 2007 Rural Health Network has moved one of its Clinics (Primary Care Medical Clinic and Dental Clinic) across 29th Street to 2901 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Marathon, adjacent to the Wellness Center. 

 

Our previous landlord (the Fisherman's Hospital Association Board of Trustees) has decided to bow out of their lease with Rural Health Network in favor of bringing in a Miami-Dade based entity, which will be controlled by a Miami-Dade Board of Directors.  This move has done little in the process of bringing better services to Monroe County, it only duplicates services that Rural Health Network has brought to the City of Marathon and the County of Monroe over the years.  (Medical Services for the past 8 years and Dental Services for the past 5 years) 

It is sad to know that an entity outside Monroe County had made plans to provide health care services within Monroe County, without making a single point of contact with Rural Health Network before this past February.  When an entity applies for Federal funding, under HRSA guidelines for a particular service area (Monroe County), they are required to make contact with other HRSA grantees within that service area.  Rural Health Network had two open HRSA grants when Community Health of Miami-Dade, Inc., now known as Community Health of South Florida, Inc., AKA CHI, made an application with HRSA for providing services in Monroe County.  Also note that at the same time Rural Health Network of Monroe County FL, Inc. had applied for a Community Health Center grant with HRSA.  Not only did CHI jeopardize Rural Health's chances at bringing Monroe County a true indigenous community health center, they worked with our past landlord, the Fisherman's Hospital Association Board of Trustees, which resulted in Rural Health Network being evicted from its location at 2855 Overseas Hwy. and being replaced by this Miami-Dade based and controlled entity.

Unfortunately, this eviction has cost Rural Health close to $ 100,000.00 in moving and build-out expenses for the new clinic.  However, it was necessary for the integrity and continuation of health care services to the citizens of Monroe County.  Rural Health Network has been, and plans to remain dedicated to its mission, and to the citizens of Monroe County, Florida.

We thank our patients and supporters throughout the County and we ask that you please remember, we are a Monroe County based non-profit entity, with 100% Monroe County employees, and a 100% Monroe County Board of Directors, and funded in large part by Monroe County tax dollars.  Rural Health Network has been here to serve the citizens of Monroe County for the past 14 years, with direct care services over the past seven years.

With all that being said, we'd like to again thank our patients for their loyalty, dedication and continued support through this process.  We also would like like to thank the County of Monroe, City of Marathon, and the many other donors that have funded our mission.  We are here to serve you, the citizens of Monroe County with the best in Primary Medical Care and Dental Care at an affordable cost. 

With all you in mind,

Daniel E. Smith, CEO

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Last modified: January 11, 2008