Research/Academic Showcase
New Combest Wellness Center Opens in East Lubbock
Grand opening festivities took place Jan. 20 for the newly constructed Larry Combest Community Health & Wellness Center, located in East Lubbock. The facility is a service of the Health Sciences Center School of Nursing.
“We are pleased to be able to offer these health services to the community as well as pay tribute to Mr. Combest who has been such an ally of our school and its programs,” said Alexia Green, Ph.D., dean of the School of Nursing. “The new building will give our patients, nurse practitioners and staff a larger facility and more capacity to serve the citizens of East Lubbock.”
The center, formerly located at 3703 Ave. A, has provided health care to residents of East Lubbock and beyond, since 1999. Originally there were no clinics available to the medically underserved residents of the community. With the development of the Wellness Center, that need has been met.
The nonprofit primary care clinic offers a full range of health care services for the entire family. Services include the Texas Health Steps program, which provides care to children from birth to age 21 who are enrolled in Medicaid. Other services include well woman exams, immunizations, minor injury treatment, onsite laboratory, nutritional education, diabetes education and social services. Nurse practitioners from the School of Nursing staff the center, supported by physicians from the Health Sciences Center School of Medicine.
M. Roy Wilson, M.D., M.S., Health Sciences Center president, said it is vital for the institution to provide leadership in improving the health of the community.
“As do many health sciences centers, we provide outstanding care to the sickest of patients. To improve the health of the community, we must provide medical services to those least able to afford it, educate the public on health-related issues and play a key advocacy role in promoting a healthier environment,” Wilson said.
Total cost for the 6,485-square-foot facility is $1,605,210. The contractor is Sandia Construction Inc. with design by MWM Architects Inc.
Funding to support the building project came from an $885,210 congressional appropriation administered through the Health Resources and Services Administration; $350,000 in capital construction funds from the Health Sciences Center School of Nursing; a $250,000 Community Development Block Grant from the City of Lubbock; and leasing support for the land from Lubbock Independent School District.