A $1 million facilities improvement grant will fund a new Rupert clinic with modernized exam rooms and expanded services including care management, outreach and dental
Rupert, ID — Family Health Services (FHS) and the city of Rupert announced today the construction of a new clinic following the award of a $1 million grant through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Health Infrastructure Improvement Program. The new 10,000 sq. ft. clinic will modernize exam rooms and add space for new medical services like care management, outreach and expanded dental services.
“All of us at Family Health Services are excited to be able to provide new and improved services to the people of Rupert,” said Aaron Houston, CEO of Family Health Services. “We were thrilled to be awarded the HRSA grant to help us continue to offer affordable and accessible care to our communities. With tremendous support from the city of Rupert, the city council and local businesses, our partnership has made the project a success at every stage.”
Modernized exam rooms will be fitted with new equipment and a more efficient layout for patients and staff. The facility will provide care management to better assist chronically ill patients in managing medications and visits as well as outreach and enrollment services to provide support to the community including the identification of insurance coverage and other benefit opportunities. The new clinic will also accommodate a dentist and hygienist in three operation rooms, with future plans to add an additional dental operation area, more medical exam rooms and a pharmacy.
FHS was awarded the facilities improvement grant in May of 2016, with the original intent to build a 5,000 sq. ft. clinic on its current Rupert site. After realizing an opportunity to locate in downtown Rupert, the project was expanded to a new and larger location.
“We were excited to hear about the HRSA grant and pleased to see another investment made in our historic downtown,” said Kelly Anthon, city of Rupert administrator. “Community health services, like those provided by FHS, ensure our community has access to affordable healthcare. This new facility also highlights the progress the City is making in revitalizing its town center and local economy. Family Health Services’ new clinic will be a welcome addition to the Rupert landscape.”
FHS is a Community Health Center that offers affordable and accessible primary medical and dental care, behavioral health and social services throughout South Central Idaho. In 2016, FHS served approximately 2,800 patients with 11,000 visits from the current Rupert clinic.
The project is set to be completed in the summer of 2018. The new facility will be located at 402 6th Street in Rupert at the location of the former Minico Auto Parts store. The land for the new clinic was acquired in part with a donation from the most recent property owner – The Idaho Company.
For more information about Family Health Services, please visit them online at fhsid.org. More information about the city of Rupert can be found on their website, rupert-idaho.com.
