Construction on new clinic slated for spring

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Last Tuesday, Nov. 17, the Upper San Juan Health Service District (USJHSD) held their regular meeting, during which the board of directors unanimously approved the construction of a $12 million primary care clinic.

According to Pagosa Springs Medical Center (PSMC) CEO Brad Cochennet, “The new building should be ready to serve the community in the spring of 2017.”

At the meeting, the board approved Resolution 2015-7, and in doing so, approved the Primary Care Expansion and Hospital Renovation Business Plan. This resolution solidifies the board’s decision to begin construction on the new primary care clinic this spring.

According to the business plan overview, between 2011 and 2013, Pagosa Springs Medical Center experienced 50-percent growth in primary care clinic visits.

Between 2014 and 2015, substantial growth was seen in the demand for hospital services. Particularly in the emergency department, inpatient unit and surgery.

In addition, a major contributor to recent growth at PSMC is the influx of patients from the Jicarilla Apache Nation in Dulce, N.M.

In 2014, PSMC hired Boulder Associates Architects and reached out to Ryker Hardware to develop a master plan to address current and future demand.

The first phase of the master plan calls for the construction of the primary care clinic. The second phase focuses on hospital renovations.

Since the creation of the master plan, the USJHSD board has been working to obtain financing, as well as weighing the decision of when to begin construction.

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