Community health clinic to open July 5 on North Roop

Carson City will offer a variety of health services targeting low-income women and families at its community health clinic beginning July 5.

Family planning, well-baby checks, pregnancy testing, immunizations and reproductive health screenings are among services to be offered at the Carson City Community Health Clinic, soon to be located at 1711 N. Roop St.

City health employees have "an acute understanding of the issues that surround community and public health," said Daren Winkelman, the city's health director. "It only makes sense that we take the next step as a health authority and provide a fresh approach to these essential services."

The city created its Health Board in 2004 to better tailor offerings to residents' needs and provide a "safety net" of care. Its members include city supervisors, the sheriff and a health officer, Winkelman said.

Sierra Family Health Center, a federally qualified provider, will continue to serve low-income patients. It won't be the contractual service provider for the city anymore, however. This will be handled by MedDirect. Sierra will be a referral provider.

State money pays for the clinic service, but patients are charged fees for services based on their income.

The clinic should be relocated by this fall to the 26,000-square-foot former Carson-Tahoe Hospital rehabilitation center site at 900 E. Long St., the new Health and Human Services Division headquarters, Winkelman said.

Bringing the clinic under the same roof as the city's other health functions would help low-income residents deal with a variety of other issues, and bring the city much closer to its wider service goal. If a patient needs assistance with another health issue or any problem that could be handled by the city, staff at the clinic can more easily refer the patient to the appropriate employee or department, Winkelman said.

Call 887-2195 to schedule an appointment. The clinic will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.

For yourinformation

• The Carson City Community Health Clinic will open July 5 at 1711 N. Roop St.

• Make appointments now by calling 887-2195.