Family care center expands with USDA loan

10/24/2011

The Margaret J. Weston Community Healthcare Center plans to begin construction on a 3,700 square-foot expansion at its Aiken, South Carolina, location following a USDA loan of nearly $1 million, the Aiken Standard reports.

The Aiken facility will use a $960,000 Rural Development loan to expand the facility with a suite dedicated to pediatric, obstetrics and gynecological care.

MJWCHC, which was originally constructed 30 years ago, will begin the expansion on November 1, with work expected to last at least six months.

In addition to family medical care, the Weston center offers pregnancy care, ultrasounds, immunization services, diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, acute and wellness care and elderly care, among other services.

The center will be staffed by three doctors - Cherise Fretwell, Julie Kappes and Deepa Jagdale - who all believe the expansion "will be good to the community," and "strengthen the care the center provides."

According to its website, the center's goal is to provide "accessible, quality, comprehensive primary healthcare in a dignified and culturally competent manner to the population in Aiken County and the surrounding communities."