Local dignitaries and city officials came together with representatives from New Horizon Community Health Center for a special ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of a new clinic in Laguna Vista on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
Bringing Quality Care to Underserved Communities
The New Horizon Community Health Center has launched its inaugural clinic in the Laguna Vista region with the aim of providing top-notch healthcare to the local residents. Situated at 723 Santa Isabel Blvd., Suite G in Laguna Vista, the new facility is poised to tackle healthcare challenges in Cameron County, where the poverty rate stands at 22.6% as per figures from the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities.
Addressing Health Disparities
Citing a 2024 report by Episcopal Health, the healthcare company highlighted that the county saw 7,494 life-years lost in 2020 due to health inequalities. The concept of life-years gauges the projected years lost due to untimely or unexpected deaths. To combat these pressing issues, the clinic will offer family medicine, lab services, and employ bilingual staff, as per a press release by New Horizon Community Health Center.
Expanding Access to Comprehensive Healthcare Services
The primary objective of the facility is to deliver comprehensive healthcare services by enhancing access to care for underserved communities, thereby affording residents the chance to receive essential treatments without the need to travel elsewhere for medical assistance.
Filling the Gap in Medical Care
Apart from offering healthcare services, the clinic will fulfill the void left by the closure of a UTRGV clinic in December last year, which had caused worry among the local population. The UT Health RGV Primary Care at Laguna Vista, jointly operated by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and the Town of Laguna Vista since 2018, shuttered its doors in late 2023 due to insufficient patient numbers.
Celebratory Atmosphere
Attending the ribbon cutting ceremony were Laguna Vista Mayor Michael Carter, New Horizon CEO Jason Wallace, State Rep. Janie Lopez, and representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez and Sen. Ted Cruz, showcasing the community's support for the much-needed healthcare initiative.