By Emily Berry
Staff Writer
Erlanger hospital officials plan to meet with members of the board of Southside and Dodson Avenue Health Centers soon to discuss the future of the Southside clinic, located at the former Franklin Middle School.
The health centers are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Erlanger hospital and are federally funded.
Erlanger CEO Jim Brexler told trustees Monday night that Hamilton County schools officials would not guarantee the clinic space in the building past Dec. 31.
Since the school closed in 2004, school district officials have been discussing whether to sell the building and even at one point offered to give Erlanger the building, Mr. Brexler said.
He told trustees that hospital and clinic leaders need to come up with a backup plan in case the clinic loses its space in the building before coming up with a permanent location.
The hospital could spend $5 million to build a new clinic, lease or purchase a new building or renovate the Franklin Middle School building, which would include spending at least $500,000 on asbestos abatement, Mr. Brexler said. He said the hospital could temporarily consolidate the two health clinics, leaving the one at Dodson Avenue to serve all patients.
E-mail Emily Berry at eberry@timesfreepress.com
See tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press for full coverage.
