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WASHINGTON D.C. - A number of area health care centers will be receiving federal stimulus money to make improvements and to upgrade services.

Health centers nationwide are set to receive $851 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, with nearly $19 million going to 28 facilities in West Virginia, including the Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center in Grantsville ($666,500), Ritchie County Primary Care Association in Harrisville ($464,012), Roane County Family Health Care in Spencer ($503,435) and Wirt County Health Services Association in Elizabeth ($572,515).

The funding had the support of many of West Virginia's federal lawmakers.

''West Virginia's community health centers are absolutely vital to people in rural and underserved areas of our state,'' said Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. ''These funds are so important for our clinics to make the updates they need.

''I fought hard for this money because I believe that with these needed funds we're not only improving access to health care, which absolutely leads to a stronger overall economy, but we're also investing in new and existing jobs for West Virginians.''

Officials with Minnie Hamilton said the money will be used to make improvements to its electronic health record, improvements to its lobby area and other projects.

The Wirt County Health Services Association will use the funding for expanding facility infrastructure, renovation to better utilize space, update its electronic health records to utilize prescription safety checks and to update and modernize equipment to allow for the provision of services not available anywhere else in the target area, said Dee Scritchfield, CEO.

''WCHSA's center efficiencies will be greatly enhanced by the reduction of duplicate entry with its health information systems,'' she said. ''In addition, the enhanced tools will also provide for quality care improvements by allowing providers quick access to records and standard recommendations based on a patients care history.

''Patient outcomes can be improved by providing prenatal services to a population that currently does not have that available to them, by utilizing care models for dealing health disparities built into electronic patient record tools and by care and social service navigation insuring patients are aware of all programs are available to them.''

The WCHSA operates facilities in both Wirt and Jackson counties.

Scritchfield said the funding will be specifically used in four projects, including $232,650 for enhanced technology that will combine a new electronic record and their practice management system as well as accounting system to include all five of their sites; $36,514 to convert unused space at River Valley Health and Wellness Center in Ravenswood to clinical and pharmacy space that will include offering prenatal care which is not available now; $68,264 to add and replace outdated clinical equipment; and $235,088 to relocate and expand Ripley Family Medicine.

Officials at Ritchie County Primary Care Association and Roane County Family Health Care did not immediately return messages Thursday.

Boldly addressing the nation's health care issues must be a key component of any strategy for long-term economic growth and prosperity, said Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va.

''In West Virginia, we grapple with some of the nation's worst behavioral-risk factors and gaps in access to preventative care and education,'' he said. ''This new funding will have a direct, immediate and positive impact on the lives of West Virginians, especially in our more rural areas.''