Bill Hicks

A proposal that broadly would expand the Southside and Dodson Avenue Community Health Centers' obstetrics and gynecological services could help mitigate one of Hamilton County's most critical health concerns -- infant mortality.

"We have a serious problem in our county with birth outcomes," said Bill Hicks, executive director of the Southside and Dodson Avenue Community Health Centers. "The health centers hope to do their part."

The centers' finance committee this week unanimously approved a recommendation to the full board to partner with doctors from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Chattanooga's department of gynecology. The arrangement would replace the centers' current $390,000-a-year contract with Dr. James Nunally, a gynecologist in private practice.

Dr. Nunally's contract expires in October, and he had requested an increase in his fee to $450,000 per year, Mr. Hicks said.

The proposal from the college of medicine would provide for 40 hours per week of physician coverage and 24-hour-a-day, on-call coverage for just $290,000, said Roger Forgey, senior vice president at Erlanger. Dr. Nunally now provides 20 hours per week of coverage, plus 20 hours of coverage from a nurse midwife, he said.

That fee would free up $100,000 for centers to hire a full-time nurse midwife, effectively doubling coverage for the annual fee the centers now pay, Mr. Forgey said.

Mr. Hicks said the community health centers also plan to add an additional nurse midwife supported through state funding.

The board of the Southside and Dodson Avenue Community Health Centers will consider the proposal Tuesday. Nine of the board's 13 members are on the committee that recommended pursuing the option, Mr. Hicks said.

Board member Gary Slater said Wednesday that he believes the centers' OB-GYN patients will be excited about the expanded coverage, but he added that many patients have close relationships with Dr. Nunally, who has worked with the centers for about 20 years.

"Some might be upset because Dr. Nunally has been with the center for so long," he said.

Dr. Nunally could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.

Dr. Dan Schubert, director of ambulatory care and gynecology at the UT College of Medicine in Chattanooga, said medical residents would help provide on-call coverage at the centers if the college of medicine is awarded the contract.

WHAT ARE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS?

The community health centers in Southside and on Dodson Avenue are part of the federally funded community health centers program, which provides primary care to medically underserved communities and vulnerable populations.