ST. GEORGE — A new medical facility is set to open next year in Colorado City, Arizona.
The hope is that the Creek Valley Health Clinic will “inspire health and wellness through accessible and affordable health care,” according to the organization’s statement of purpose.
Hunter Adams, project director and acting administrator, said the health organization is managed by a board of directors representing the surrounding areas, including members from Apple Valley, Hildale, Colorado City, Centennial Park and Cane Beds.
“We’re anticipated to serve everyone,” Adams said. “Whoever walks through our door, whether they’re locals, tourists, regardless of their insurance status, we are here to serve the entire community.”
Adams said he heard seven months ago of efforts to bring an all-inclusive health clinic to Colorado City. About 10,000 people living in the area have not had access to local medical clinics for about 10-15 years, he said.
For three or four years, the board of directors spoke with other organizations about an already existing entity opening a branch in Colorado City, Adams said.
“What they ultimately decided was something by the community, for the community would be better utilized and more accepted by the community.”
Adams said the organization has been established within the last six months and should be receiving its nonprofit designation in the coming weeks. The next steps, Adams said, are launching the clinic’s website and obtaining funding to open its doors.
He said the organization has applied for a number of state and federal grants, which they are waiting to hear the status of, but the biggest is the New Access Point Grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Adams said if they are awarded the grant, clinic will be a federally qualified health center. That qualification would lay out a strict set of guidelines for what services the clinic would need to provide, like dental, mental health, primary care transportation and diagnostic imaging and lab.
The clinic has five examination rooms but the organization is planning to renovate the building to create seven examination rooms in total, Adams said
“It’s been such a fun project, and it’s definitely something that the community can and will use.”
Adams said the hope is that the clinic will open its doors by January 2020, but there are a number of factors outside of their control, like the timeline for a number of enrollment requirements.
However, the clinic is already making itself a known resource within the community. It will be working with about 20 outside organizations at the second annual health fair in Colorado City on July 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year, the event will be known as the Creek Valley Health Fair, Adams said.
The clinic is partnering with a number of larger organizations, he said, such as Intermountain Healthcare, the University of Utah, and Southwest Behavioral Health. The fair will offer participants health screenings, basic vision tests and athletic physical exams among other services. The event is free to the public.
The clinic is looking to hire medical assistants, patient service representatives, eligibility specialists, health education specialists, quality assurance managers, licensed clinical social workers, dental hygienists and medical providers for this October or November. Adams said they have local individuals in mind, but these are more positions that they are looking to fill. Interested parties can email [email protected] for more information.
General questions and inquiries can be directed to [email protected], and anyone who is interested in enrolling in the clinic’s newsletter is urged to email [email protected].
Email: [email protected]
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