ENTERPRISE — Winding Waters Medical Clinic in Enterprise is the recipient of $500,000 in federal money to add hours of operation to improve access to health services, according to a press release.

The investment comes from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It’s part of $1.9 million going to four HRSA-funded community health centers in Oregon that serve over 29,379 people.

The health centers receiving this new funding are expected to add hours of operation in the early morning (before work), at night and on weekends.

Winding Waters CEO Nic Powers said the half-million-dollar grant will come over two years and he hopes it gets folded into the clinic’s base grant as a federally qualified charitable institution.

“We’re very excited about this,” Powers said.

He said he expects during the next six months to a year that Winding Waters will add about 20 hours a week across all its clinics in Enterprise, Wallowa and Joseph. He expects to increase the hours of operation at Wallowa to 44 a week, the Joseph clinic to 32 hours a week and the Hearts for Health clinic in Enterprise to 40 hours.

He said he is being a bit cautious before actually increasing the hours.

“We want to make sure we have enough staff, but it will be before the end of this calendar year,” he said.

Powers said the funding will help fill vacant positions at the clinics and recruit more staff. He said the clinics now have two staff positions open and they’re recruiting for another primary care provider, another dentist and a pharmacist. Winding Waters plans to open a new pharmacy in Enterprise in the spring.

Since health centers like Winding Waters see patients regardless of their ability to pay, this expansion of operating hours will be particularly critical for people who are uninsured, underinsured or have Medicaid coverage, struggle to find affordable care outside of traditional business hours and cannot afford expensive visits to urgent care, retail clinics or emergency departments.

“We want people to be able to be seen in their hometowns and not always have to travel to Enterprise,” Powers said.

This funding also will help health center patients with common challenges in accessing health care such as taking a child to the doctor after work or getting a timely appointment when not feeling well on the weekend. It will help connect patients to preventive services and resources for health-related social needs to improve health outcomes.

“No one should have to delay or skip a trip to the doctor because of work or school,” outgoing HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in the press release. “The millions of Americans who can’t miss their daytime work shift, whose kids are in school, who have limited child care, or who face transportation challenges deserve the same access to quality care.” 

HRSA-supported health centers provide access to primary care services — regardless of an individual’s ability to pay — for over 31 million patients at more than 15,000 service sites in high-need communities. More than 90% of health center patients have incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level.

The Oregon health centers receiving a portion of the $1.9 million also include: 

• The Wallace Medical Concern in Portland: $500,000.

• Asher Community Health Center in Fossil: $400,000.

• One Community Health in Hood River: $500,000.

Powers said the money in the grant is available to draw on now.

“It’s kind of like a reimbursement,” he said.

He expressed his gratitude to the federal officials who helped make it possible.

“Our senators and representatives have been great and health-centered,” he said. ”We want to reinforce that commitment to make sure people can take care of our families and neighbors. It really matters to everybody on our team.”