The Clay County Hospital Foundation (CCHF) has joined an effort to support the development of a new mental health clinic at Clay County Medical Center (CCMC).
During Tuesday’s CCHF annual meeting, a campaign was announced to raise funds for a 6,765 square-foot addition to the hospital, which includes a specialized mental health clinic and dedicated space for what has become a regional hub for surgery and pulmonology services.
“CCMC has created a brick-and-mortar response to the mental health challenges affecting our region, and we want to show our full support of the project with this campaign,” said Bryce Dolan, CCHF Director. The clinic will expand CCMC’s ability to support the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of the communities served by CCMC.
CCHF has set a goal of raising $150,000 to donate toward the effort, which includes the opportunity for room-naming sponsorships of various spaces in the clinic addition along with general financial donations from individuals wanting to get behind the project.
“We are excited to create the opportunity for our community to show their support for this important effort,” said Dan Thalmann, campaign director. “I know supporters of healthcare understand the importance of taking an active role in treating this medical need, and I’m confident folks will step up with financial donations to help equip the hospital to confront this challenge head-on. We want to be proactive with this challenge and this campaign is one way people can show their support.”
The $3.8 million construction project will include a 2,422-square-foot mental health clinic and a 4,343-square-foot expansion of Clay Center Family Physicians, along with enhancements to the emergency department and a parking lot expansion for the therapy departments.
The mental health clinic team will include two psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners, a marriage and family therapist and a mental health counselor, along with medical support staff. This focus on mental health will be unique in the region for hospitals like CCMC. The clinic will help meet the mental health needs of patients from Clay, Riley, Cloud, Washington, and Mitchell Counties.
“We are facing difficult times with mental health in society right now,” said Austin Gillard, CEO. “CCMC has already encountered a high demand for mental health services, but there is more need. This expansion will increase our capacity to fill that extra demand.”
Plans for the CCFP addition will also include new dedicated space for the general surgery and pulmonology teams to serve their expanding practices with more exam rooms and another procedure room.
This expansion again increases CCMC’s capabilities in fulfilling the area’s medical needs locally, allowing patients in the area to get their medical needs met near their homes, among friends and neighbors, rather than being forced to travel to facilities in larger cities.
Plans call for construction to begin in August with an expected completion in April 2025.
Any level of donation toward the campaign would assist in the success of the effort. Naming rights through room sponsorships are included with donations ranging from $5,000 to $15,000.
To donate any amount, go to www.ccmcks.org/foundation/waystogive.php and click the “Make a Donation” button. To sponsor a room, or for more information, contact Dan Thalmann at 785-747-6980.
