Premier Community HealthCare’s CEO, Joseph Resnick, provided an annual update to Hernando County’s Board of County Commissioners on October 13, 2020, and thanked the board for their contributions. Premier is 1 of approximately 1,400 community healthcare centers nationwide, with 55 in the state of Florida.
Premier is a non-profit organization providing quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare to Hernando and Pasco county residents. Premier started in 1979, and now has a total of 8 locations in Pasco County and 2 in Hernando County. The 2 Hernando County locations opened in 2017. Offering several important family healthcare specialties in adult, pediatrics, women’s health, dental, and behavioral health. Also available are other special community services, such as “Kid Shape 2.0,” which offers a virtual class instructing children on how to cook healthy meals during the pandemic, along with delivering all of the ingredients needed.
The largest population of Premier’s patients are either uninsured or receiving Medicaid, however, the agency does not turn anyone away based on ability to pay. Additionally, they also accept other popular health insurance such as Blue Cross / Blue Shield. Resnick reported that he and many other staff members are also patients.
In conjunction with the Department of Health, Premier is now offering drive-through Covid-19 testing by appointment at their Brooksville location once a week. The drive-through testing is approximately a 4-minute process. Results are still returned in a matter of days since rapid testing is not yet available.
Through their community services, Premier has also been able to supply the community packages containing facemasks and hand sanitizer, some of which have been donated and some purchased from their budget.
Because they are a community healthcare system, Resnick reports that Premier relies on additional funding, such as donations, volunteers, funding programs such as LIP (Low Income Pool) Funding, to which Hernando County contributes, and the additional Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for $300,000, which is in process. Due to limited funding, Premier must limit days for some services. In Brooksville, for example, they have expanded their dental services from 3 days a week to 4, with the goal of reaching 5 days a week. In addition to that, they have added a mobile dental program in Hernando County, working with the school district. “When the community is struggling to get something” Resnick added, “that’s what we do.”
If you wish to donate to Premier Community HealthCare you can visit: https://premierhc.org/donate/ or contact them at:
Premier Community HealthCare Group, Inc.
37912 Church Avenue
Dade City, FL 33525
Phone: 352-518-2000 / 727-645-4185
Fax: 352-567-5193
