By Roger McKinney
news@joplinglobe.com
BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan. —
Construction has begun on a new Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas medical and dental clinic, with an eye toward opening in January.
The 4,225-square-foot clinic is being built by Tri-State Construction Co. at 2990 Military Ave., on the south end of town near Wal-Mart. The construction contract is $621,000, with the total investment including equipment expected to top $1 million.
Pittsburg dentist Dan Minnis, a board member of Community Health Center, donated $60,000 for the land purchase. Construction of the clinic is being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the federal stimulus plan.
The Ronald O. Thomas Foundation, administered by Jim Hoskins, is providing $47,000 toward the purchase of medical equipment. Another pledge of medical and dental products has come from Henry Schein Inc.
Krista Postai, chief executive officer of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, said the clinic probably will have 11 on its staff when it opens, with the number of staff members increasing as demand grows. The staff will include a physician, nurse practitioner, dentist and dental hygienist. Staff members already are being recruited.
“The Baxter Springs location is intended to bring services closer to the people who need them,” Postai said. “We already have 3,000 patients driving from this area, coming to our clinics in Pittsburg and Columbus. This makes it much more convenient for these folks.”
Postai said the federally funded health centers are located in high-need areas identified by the federal government as having elevated poverty, higher-than-average infant mortality, and few practicing physicians. They are designed to improve access to primary and preventative care.
“As the economy has suffered, so have the people of the region,” Postai said. “And as people have lost insurance coverage, they’ve sought us out to provide the care they need.”
Patient number
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas employs about 110 staff members and in 2009 treated 23,000 patients.
