Rocky Medical Clinic and the Primary Care Network (PCN) are kicking off efforts to raise $1.9 million to have a new, community-owned clinic open its doors by mid-2025.
The building envelope, which is currently under construction on the east end of Rocky Mountain House will house the new Rocky Medical Clinic, the Primary Care Network along with several other businesses.
The new clinic will be a “barrier-free” space, which clinic manager Kristen Penick says will be a vast improvement over the aging, existing clinic building on 49 St., which she says has many problems including stairs that staff and patients often have to navigate.
Penick adds, having a community-owned building is advantageous as prospective physicians can quickly set up shop without the costly commitment of a doctor-owned practice.
To meet its “lofty” goal of $1.9 million dollars to get the clinic up and running, Merentia Jeppe, clinical manager and registered nurse with the Rocky Medical Clinic, says it’s now asking the community to support the project financially.
Jeppe says she, along with primary care nurse, Serena Hunt and others will be hitting the ground running starting Oct. 22, soliciting donations from the community.
All of the donations will be going to leasehold improvements at the building once its finished, explains Jeppe.
Leasehold improvements include furnishings, cabinets and the medical equipment required for prospective physicians to move in immediately and begin their practice in the community.
Hunt says the “door-to-door” style fundraising serves as a starting point, but will be considering other fundraising efforts going forward, as well as having an increased visibility in the community.
There are certain advantages to eventually having the clinic and the PCN under one roof, says Jeppe, as currently, people occasionally miss their appointments as they show up at the wrong location.
The PCN is a “bridge” between patients and the doctor, explains Jeppe. For example, the PCN has a Women’s Health and maternity clinic, and with the clinic to be eventually in the same building, it makes it much easier for collaboration between the two.
“It just makes it easier for patients to go from the one organization to the next, so patients need to be seen by us from the doctors,” says Jeppe. “Then they can just walk basically to the building next door and then we can provide them services.”
Officials say naming rights for specific spaces at the new clinic will also be considered. That would potentially include the examining room, surgical suite, nurses room and front desk among others.
Donations can be made by e-mailing donations@rockymedical.com or by calling 1-866-687-7726.
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