HealthCore Clinic begins $10.7 million expansion

HealthCore Clinic, 2707 E. 21st St., has started a new $10.7 million expansion and renovation to expand its services.

The new building is expected to be completed by July 2017.

It’s been a long anticipated project, said Teresa Lovelady, HealthCore Clinic president and CEO.

Plans for the expansion initially began in 2009, but the clinic’s board decided to put them on hold during the recession, she said.

The new 40,000-square-foot facility, which will be built on land west of the clinic that it has owned for years, will include: 33 exam rooms (it currently has 10), 11 mental health rooms integrated throughout the clinic, a seven-chair dental clinic, pharmacy, legal offices, kitchen, fitness room, education center, walking path and community garden.

Clinic officials estimate the new building will allow them to add more than 30,000 patient visits over the next seven years, which is more than triple the clinic’s current capacity. More than 40 percent of the clinic’s patients are uninsured.

“It’s certainly been a labor of love, looking at the needs of the community and the transition to the Affordable Care Act and the lack of Medicaid expansion. We’re looking at a continued demand for health care services in our community. It’s something that’s needed,” Lovelady said. “We don’t turn anyone away, regardless of their ability to pay.”

The expansion means phasing in 75 new positions at the clinic, Lovelady said. They plan to hold job fairs in the coming months.

The clinic has also expanded its hours. It now operates from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

This story was originally published June 15, 2016 at 1:52 PM with the headline "HealthCore Clinic begins $10.7 million expansion."