Bellmawr: The Southern NJ Chest Clinic

Camden County freeholders are opening a facility at the Bellmawr Regional Health Center, 35 Browning Rd., for patients with suspected or confirmed cases of tuberculosis.

The Southern New Jersey Chest Specialty Clinic also will address the needs of patients with an increased risk of the disease or progression to active disease.

"With a decline in TB cases statewide, local practitioners did not have the opportunity to gain the expertise necessary to treat these patients," said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the county's Department of Health and Human Services. "There were minimal resources locally, which led to an inconsistent level of care."

The clinic will accept referrals from Gloucester, Burlington, Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem Counties.

It will be available to patients from 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays. The clinic's hours will be increased if need arises.