Family Health Care buys Derry building

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

After nearly two years of sitting vacant, the former Derry Drugs building is being given new life — and a new purpose.

Jennifer Smith, CEO of Family Health Care of Northwest Ohio, noted that her organization has purchased the building using grant money it receives following its designation as a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Smith said her organization would renovate the building, but would likely not be totally in the building until at least a year from now.

The first priority for the building will be the establishment of a dental program for low-income area residents, Smith added.

“Dental is a huge need in our community,” she said. “It has been the goal of our board to provide dental for many years.

“Without the FQHC designation, it was just not financially feasible for us to do, but being award fully funding status as an RGHC has made that goal a reality,” Smith added.

Smith said Family Health Care at first planned to add on to its current location on South Washington Street to provide dental services to the community, but noted that her organization was already starting to outgrow the space in that location.

With the planned addition of another primary care provider, as well as dental services, the Family Health Care board decided that other options needed to be explored.

“When we started weighing our options, the Derry’s building just made sense,” Smith said.

She noted that renovations would begin soon on the building, with establishing a dental services site being the first priority. Plans are to have dental services up and running by June of next year.

“Our goal is to then complete renovations and move our primary care services there in about a year,” Smith added.

The pharmacy portion of the building has been vacant since Derry Drugs closed its doors on December 17, 2013. Three other businesses, CNT, Taylor Chiropractic, and Medi-Lab currently have locations in a separate portion of the building.

Smith said the move will result in significant increases in space for Family Health Care, as well as the ability to provide additional services to the community.

“We’re excited for the services we will be able to offer to our community,” she added.