Calhoun Liberty Hospital to Renovate Blountstown Building for Specialists

Calhoun Liberty Hospital in Blountstown will renovate a nearby commercial building to bring specialized medical care directly to the town. The hospital received a $2.5 million grant from the state Department of Commerce's Rural Infrastructure Fund to support the project.

Blountstown is located about 45 miles west of Tallahassee. For residents in Calhoun County and surrounding areas, finding a specialist usually requires a long drive. CEO Emily Brown stated that the closest specialty services are currently in Tallahassee, Marianna, and Panama City. Patients often have to interrupt their entire day to travel to these neighboring communities for appointments.

The grant will pay for the renovation of the commercial property. Under the plan, the hospital will lease the space back from the county. This arrangement allows the hospital to move forward with the construction work immediately. Brown described the setup as a partnership that expands the hospital campus by placing primary and specialty care adjacent to the existing facility.

The new space is designed to eliminate the need for long drives. Brown noted that a patient with health issues can now be seen locally instead of making the trek to another town. The project is expected to create approximately 33 full-time jobs for the community.

The renovation work is scheduled to begin once the lease agreement is finalized. The state grant covers the physical changes needed to convert the commercial building into a functional medical office. The new clinic will operate as an extension of Calhoun Liberty Hospital's current services.