Local Health Center Breaks Ground on Multi-Million Dollar Expansion
By: Melanie Huonker
Updated: August 5, 2012
PITTSBURG, KS --- Krista Postai thought when the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas expanded in 2007 it would be the last time.
"When you live in a double-wide trailer and you go and you move into a 15,000 square foot building, you think you're good," Postai, CEO of CHC/SEK, says.
Little did she know the center would eventually outgrow its space.
"We are at capacity right now. We've got staff in closets and bathrooms and we can't actually see one more patient without adding on," she says.
Today the center broke ground on a $5.3 million expansion that will triple clinical space.
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran says there is a real need for these services in southeast Kansas where many families are uninsured.
"This expansion will allow the clinic to meet the needs of more people, more families, and a wider array of services," Sen. Moran says.
New services include vision and hearing care, rehabilitation, and wellness center activities. These services will also help with prevention of illnesses.
"Accessing healthcare through a community health center is a much less expensive way than people showing up at the emergency rooms of our hospitals," Sen. Moran says.
The expansion also means more jobs. It will add 14 providers and a total of 41 positions over a four-year period.
"This will be a huge huge boon for us. It will take us where we need to be," Postai says.
Postai expects the expansion and renovation of the current facility to be complete by January 2014.
"When you live in a double-wide trailer and you go and you move into a 15,000 square foot building, you think you're good," Postai, CEO of CHC/SEK, says.
Little did she know the center would eventually outgrow its space.
"We are at capacity right now. We've got staff in closets and bathrooms and we can't actually see one more patient without adding on," she says.
Today the center broke ground on a $5.3 million expansion that will triple clinical space.
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran says there is a real need for these services in southeast Kansas where many families are uninsured.
"This expansion will allow the clinic to meet the needs of more people, more families, and a wider array of services," Sen. Moran says.
New services include vision and hearing care, rehabilitation, and wellness center activities. These services will also help with prevention of illnesses.
"Accessing healthcare through a community health center is a much less expensive way than people showing up at the emergency rooms of our hospitals," Sen. Moran says.
The expansion also means more jobs. It will add 14 providers and a total of 41 positions over a four-year period.
"This will be a huge huge boon for us. It will take us where we need to be," Postai says.
Postai expects the expansion and renovation of the current facility to be complete by January 2014.
