Media Release

Beginning in February, county residents enrolled in Alachua County’s CHOICES Health Services program will be able to choose from twice the number of health care sites.

CHOICES, the County’s new program that provides health care for low-income, uninsured workers, has added seven primary care and dental practices run by the University of Florida to its list of community provider locations.

“We are grateful for our ‘founder’ providers that include the Alachua County Health Department, the ACORN Clinic, Gainesville After Hours Clinic, Southeastern Integrated Medical and Doctors Lab. They laid the foundation for the birth of the CHOICES program,” said Candice King, CHOICES program director.

“However, geographic access and our program’s ability to serve more citizens is greatly expanded by adding these University of Florida sites to our partnership,” she said.

The new sites include the College of Nursing’s Archer Family Health Care, the College of Dentistry’s Comprehensive Care Clinic and the College of Medicine’s Family Medicine at UF & Shands Eastside Community Practice, Family Medicine at Fourth Avenue, Hampton Oaks Family Medicine, Haile Plantation Family Medicine and West Oaks Family Medicine.

“The College of Nursing is excited to be able to offer primary care services to CHOICES enrollees in the Archer area,” said Dee Williams, Ph.D., R.N., associate dean for clinical affairs and executive associate dean of the UF College of Nursing.

The program also provides prescription assistance to enrollees. Disease management/health education services will soon be available throughout the County.

Eligible seniors receive dental services and prescription assistance as needed through the CHOICES program.

“From my perspective as a public health dentist, CHOICES is wonderful because it opens access to affordable general dental care for people who may otherwise be faced with choosing between going to the dentist to treat a painful tooth or buying groceries for their family,” said Teresa A. Dolan, D.D.S., M.P.H., professor and dean of the UF College of Dentistry.

For more information about the program and eligibility, please call (352) 264-6772 or visit the website www.acCHOICES.org.