The original HWC, built in the 90s, was located in what is now the Family Services building. It soon outgrew that space and a new facility was built in 2000 where it remains today. Over time, the Health Division has grown from 50 employees in its early years to nearly 200 employees today. It now operates the multi-specialty clinic, an AODA facility, a public health department, a pharmacy and a hybrid assisted living/nursing home.
FCP Health Division Director David Bertrand said, “Continuing to reinvest in our Health & Wellness Center demonstrates the tribe’s continuing commitment to not only tribal members, but to the surrounding communities as well.”
Over the next several months an 11,600 sq. ft. addition will be constructed alongside the southwest corner of the HWC. This area will become the new home for its rehabilitation department (physical, occupational, speech and massage therapies) as well as employee health services. This expanded space will not only be dedicated to enhanced treatment of patients but will increase programming for community members and employees of the FCP Community with the addition of a 1/16 mile walking track.
“This track will provide our therapists with yet another treatment option to incorporate into their individualized care plans for patients,” said Clinical Service Administrator Chris Skaggs. “We see patients with a wide array of therapy needs, from diabetic exercise programming to sport injury rehabilitation. This will provide our therapists a great opportunity to evaluate patients in a setting that few have to offer.”
Once the rehabilitation department has been relocated to the new addition, work will immediately begin on renovating the current rehab space to expand dental services, which will include the addition of seven dental chairs. This renovation will allow the department to better meet the growing needs and access for dental services in the community. It will also allow the dental department to modernize and relocate its laboratory and imaging services.
Dental Director Kirk Richie, DDS, states, “This expansion will not only allow us to continue to improve the quality and efficiency of the outstanding care we already provide, but will help us to meet the growing demand for our services that we’ve experienced. We’re excited about the access that this will create for our patients… they deserve it.”
According to Bertrand, the project should be completed by July of next year. “We’re excited about what this will mean for our patients, but know that needs of our surrounding communities continue to grow. We’re already planning to make sure that we’re positioned to meet those future needs.
About the FCP HWC
The HWC, serving both tribal members and the general public, has been an accredited ambulatory clinic since 2005, and became an accredited Medical Home in 2012 as well as a Dental Home in 2015. In addition to dental and rehabilitative services, the HWC provides medical, behavioral health, optometry, laboratory, radiology, and pharmacy services as well as the Weekend Walk-in Clinic.
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