Washington D.C. Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) announced today he has secured $714,000 in federal funding to help improve health care services and higher education opportunities for residents at three institutions in Rockford.
The funding, included in an appropriations bill the House approved last week, is expected to be approved by the Senate later this week before it is sent to the President for his signature. Manzullo worked with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) to secure the funding in the bills. The initiatives include:
· $238,000 for Crusader Community Health of Rockford -- This money will help fund a new electronic health records (EHR) system for the community health clinics located on West State Street and Broadway in Rockford, and their location in Belvidere. The total cost to implement an electronic health records system is $1 million. Crusader Community Health is a community-based, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to serve the Rockford area with quality, primary health care for all people in need. The clinic currently serves over 40,000 low-income, uninsured, and underinsured patients annually, reducing costly emergency room visits by the uninsured that would have increased costs for those with insurance.
· $238,000 for the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford -- This federal funding will help fund the Rockford campus’ $26.2 million, 58,000-square-foot building expansion project, which is scheduled to open in the summer of 2010. The new facilities will house the National Center for Rural Health and Education, as well as add space for the college of pharmacy, and the new masters in bio-medical technology program. Manzullo previously secured $2.2 million for this major project, which will create jobs and attract visitors from all over the world to attend symposia on the unique rural health education fields.
· $238,000 for Rockford College --This funding will help Rockford College purchase new science equipment and other classroom technology in order to enhance student learning and performance, while equipping students with the skills needed for tomorrow’s workforce.
“Crusader Clinic, the College of Medicine and Rockford College are three institutions vitally important to the future of Rockford,” Manzullo said. “These federal funds will help them continue and enhance their mission to provide quality health care and higher education opportunities to the people of Rockford and beyond.”