The new Jefferson County Health and Wellness Center officially opened with a June 24 ribbon cutting ceremony. The ceremony marks the welcoming of the community into the building for services and the completion of a project many years in the making.
The new building was originally conceived by talks with the county commission, community members and Jefferson County Public Health. They identified a need for a new building and through lobbying, fundraising and outreach were able to turn that goal into a realty.
Jefferson County Commission Chair Wayne Fording spoke at the ribbon cutting ceremony and outlined the process the building took. The building was originally largely funded through the Oregon Legislature for $4.1 million, led in a large push by Congressmen Bentz, who recorded a video for the event, and Senator Findley, who attended in person. Through COVID, the needs and budget grew, and the contribution from the state rose to $5.4 million. Mosaic Medical raised $5.3 million through donations and grants. The total for the project came to $11 million.
“People in rural communities are having to drive many miles for medical care, so having this facility in Madras is great,” said Bentz. “It will really help access in the community.”
The Jefferson County Health and Wellness Center holds two groups in its walls, Jefferson County Public Health and Mosaic Medical Center. Both groups focus on community health and addressing unmet needs for medical care in our community.
Dr. Michael Baker, the director of public health for Jefferson County, spoke at the ceremony, sharing “This building is a symbol of how Jefferson County is prioritizing public health. Without a strong health foundation, a strong community isn’t possible. With this building, we are saying ‘We are Jefferson County, and we are no longer going to be ranked one of the most unhealthy counties in the state of Oregon. We’re doing something about it.'”
The new building features a large variety of services, from vaccinations and behavioral health appointments to dental care and a pharmacy open to the public. The two groups working in the building are both able to expand services thanks to the new building.
Mosaic Medical has served Jefferson County through its clinic in Madras since 2006. The new facility will double the number of Mosaic Medical exam rooms, provide much needed space for dental and behavioral health services and includes drive-up care services and a low-cost pharmacy available to all.
For JCPH, relocating to the new building will allow for increases in direct clinical services as well as community-wide services. Staff with JCPH participated in the overall design and layout of the new building to ensure programs and staff could efficiently coordinate services and offer comprehensive wraparound care to Jefferson County residents.
"We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of this facility with everyone in Madras," said Megan Haase, family nurse practitioner and Mosaic CEO. "We hope that community members will feel like they have a health home here. Everyone is welcome."
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