Cheney CHAS clinic set for August opening

By PAUL DELANEY

Staff Reporter

A project that opens ahead of schedule will help improve the availability of health care in Cheney and the West Plains.

The CHAS clinic, which occupies about 10,000 square-feet and will offer medical and dental care, opens Monday, Aug. 15 at 1720 Second Ave. in Cheney. However, the public will get a sneak peek at the clinic during an open house, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Medical providers and other staff will be on hand.

"So far it's gone better than expected," CHAS chief operating officer, Aaron Wilson, said. CHAS stands for Community Health Association of Spokane.

The original timeline called for completion in September, but work will be finished a month early. "We didn't run into any unknown monkey wrenches," Wilson said. "Typically there is some unexpected issue."

The building, which was remodeled by Bouten Construction of Spokane, formerly housed Jarms Ace Hardware. That business moved to bigger quarters in the former Ben Franklin store in December 2013.

"We're up to a baker's dozen now," Wilson said, a reference to their 13 locations.

The north-Spokane CHAS location between Ash and Maple streets, occupies about 30,000 square feet and is the largest of the clinics.

"Cheney is much more like the rest of our sites," Wilson said. It will feature primary care, dental, behavior health and a pharmacy. Cheney joins other CHAS facilities in Spokane Valley, Deer Park and Clarkston, plus Idaho locations in Lewiston and Moscow.

A clinic located in the West Plains will help cut down times, specifically commuting. "We are trying to expand our services to new communities," Wilson said. "That's what stood out about Cheney."

Cheney's location will be served initially by one full-time physician plus one mid-level provider, otherwise known as a physician's assistant or nurse practitioner. "We're recruiting for an additional two mid-level providers," Wilson said. That process will go through the end of 2016.

"Once we're fully operational - that will take a little bit of time - about two years down the road, the Cheney clinic will serve about 5,000 patients annually," Wilson explained.

As with the medical side, there is one full-time dentist currently on staff, Wilson said. Fundraising is underway to add another dentist.

The pharmacy will open in mid-September, Wilson said. "That just more of a licensing issue," as the state was taking longer than expected on paperwork, he added.

Cheney's location is also staffed with behavioral health staff who support the primary care team.

CHAS operates like any other health care provider with income derived from patient fees, private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. "Ninety percent of our revenue comes through patient fees," Wilson said. "Just under 10 percent are federal grant dollars," Wilson said.

A Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration Health Center Program grant helped jump-start the Cheney location 

"One of the requirements that comes with that grant is you have 120 days to get some level of services up and operational," Wilson said.

Part of the grant application included conducting needs assessments, Wilson explained. "That's how the grants are scored," he added. The Cheney area scored high in need.

While the Cheney location comes fully online and there is work taking place in Moscow, Idaho, no other expansion is planned for the near future, Wilson said.

CHAS, founded in 1994, is a non-profit, federally qualified health center providing high-quality medical, dental, pharmacy and behavioral health services to families and individuals of all ages, regardless of insurance status. They serve approximately 52,000 patients each year throughout Spokane County and the Lewis-Clark Valley.

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.