SOUTH SIOUX CITY | Siouxland Community Health Center's first satellite clinic is enhancing access to comprehensive primary care services for 9,000 of its 26,000 patients who live in Dakota County.
Siouxland Community Health of Nebraska, located at 3410 Futures Drive, opened for business Dec. 9.
"The community response to our expansion into South Sioux City has been incredible," said Mary McGowan, a nurse practitioner working at the clinic. "Both the medical and business communities have been supportive of our facility and we are excited about the potential growth of Siouxland Community Health of Nebraska."
The expansion was made possible by a $650,000 federal grant from the Health Resources and Service Administration, one of the programs under the Affordable Care Act that attempts to address the unmet health care needs of the underserved.
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"We just felt that we needed a location that would provide accessibility for that large number of patients," said Mari Kaptain-Dahlen, Siouxland Community Health Center CEO.
Two and a half years ago, she said the South Sioux City City Council asked if the health center would consider opening a location there. She said officials chose the building that formerly housed a Family Health Care of Siouxland Clinic, which offers about 24,000 square feet of space, because it provided ample parking and allowed physicians to start seeing patients quickly. The health center is leasing 7,000 square feet of the building.
Dave Faldmo, Siouxland Community Health Center's medical director, said the health center had just three months from the time the grant was awarded to complete renovations, which included new paint and carpeting in various shades of gray. The spacious lobby is bright and airy. The space includes 10 exam rooms off two long hallways. New exam tables were purchased, while existing cabinetry was refitted.
"The launch of Siouxland Community Health of Nebraska has exceeded our expectations. Both current and new patients are extremely pleased with the facilities, the ease of access to the clinic and the services we provide," Faldmo said.
Faldmo, a physician assistant, is seeing patients off one of the hallways, while McGowan is working off the other. The clinic features a nursing station between the two hallways and a laboratory.
Although Kaptain-Dahlen said providers Faldmo and McGowan see patients at the clinic full time, she said a team of health care professionals actually supports each patient. That team, depending on the patient, could include Somali and Spanish-speaking interpreters, as well as a case manager who coordinates care, a licensed practical nurse and a medical assistant.
Kaptain-Dahlen said the community has been extremely supportive of the expansion. The City of South Sioux City worked with the health center to ensure the bus, the only means of transportation for some patients, will stop in front of the facility.
The clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. On Monday and Thursday it's open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Services include walk-in and urgent care appointments, as well as preventative care and follow-up appointments.
"Those in need of appointments don't have to call and schedule. They can walk in and they will be seen," Kaptain-Dahlen said.
She thinks the opening of the clinic might initially alleviate congestion at the Sioux City location, where parking is limited.
"It may be temporary alleviation of the facility, but we expect to fill back to capacity," she said.
