Grand opening at Quincy Community Health Center

QUINCY - Community members got a look at the new Quincy Community Health Center at a grand opening Tuesday evening.

The 22,000-square-foot building opened to patients in April. Construction cost about $7.5 million, said Sheila Chilson, executive director of Moses Lake Community Health, which operates the Quincy clinic.

Employees gave building tours, which includes one wing for the medical clinic and one wing for the dental clinic. There's also room for a behavioral health program, maternity support services and the WIC (women's, infants, children) program. "All of our services under one roof," Chilson said. Currently the Quincy clinic has one full-time doctor and one physician's assistant, she said. Two nurse practitioners start treating patients Monday.

The medical clinic has room for up to eight medical practitioners, each with three consultation rooms. The clinic offers some lab and x-ray services as well.

The clinic also has a room where minor procedures, like setting a cast, can be performed.

The new dental clinic has room for nine patients, expanded from six in the previous clinic, dental director Brett Pack said. "We have more space to see more people." Each dentist can see about 10 patients per day, he said.

The extra space will allow the clinic to cut down on patient wait times, Pack said. Currently there are two full-time dentists at the Quincy clinic, with a third starting next week.

And that $7.5 million, a combination of Community Health reserves, loans and a tax credit program, got Community Health a modern building. "I actually want to come to the dentist now," a potential patient said as he toured the dental clinic.

"Just wait until you sit down," his friend replied.

Everything is new, from the tile floors to the state-of-the-art equipment. The X-ray room uses digital technology, making off site diagnoses easier, and the clinic now has the capacity to monitor vision health for diabetes patients.

"This is a great place," said Juan Carlos Magallanes, a Quincy minister who's on the Community Health board of directors.

The new building emphasizes that Community Health officials are interested in staying in Quincy, Chilson said. Talking to Quincy residents before construction began, Chilson said she found some confusion over the clinic's long term plans. The new building is a visible sign that Community Health is invested in Quincy, she said.

The clinic is open Monday through Saturday and officials have set the goal of adding Sunday hours, Chilson said.