Two area medical clinics focused on behavioral and physical care to Rockdale County citizens who are most in need will now be able to do so together in one location thanks to a federal grant.

Oakhurst Medical Centers, Inc., a non-profit, community-based health care center, has been awarded  $441,667 to better assist the County’s underserved citizens.

Oakhurst and View Point Health (formerly the Gwinnett-Rockdale-Newton Community Service Board) will provide integrated behavioral and physical health care to under-served county residents at the J.P. Carr Center. 

“Oakhurst has applied at least three times for the funding, and this is the first time we’ve been able to get the award,” Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Taylor said. The center submitted a grant application in December 2010 and is receiving funding from the Bureau of Primary Health Care. Eight hundred applications were filed with the federal government and about 250 awarded.

Taylor and Frank Berry, View Point Health’s Chief Executive Officer, decided to partner so that the organizations could provide ‘whole person’ care. With this, the combined location allows their physicians and psychiatrists to coordinate care and ensure complementary treatments are provided.

“This is a great opportunity for the citizens of Rockdale County,” View Point’s Chief Operating Officer David Crews said. “I’m pleased citizens will now have access to integrated care so they can live healthy lives.”

Primary care services are expected to begin in October. To learn more about services at Oakhurst Medical Centers visit www.oakhurstmedical.org and at Viewpoint Health visit www.viewpointhealth.org.