A newly constructed medical clinic is making its presence known in the community. No longer hidden among other health care services, Bellin Health Oconto Falls celebrated its distinctiveness and exhibited its expanded services at an open house Wednesday.
Rhonda Key, the clinic’s office manager, said the new facility provides greater visibility for Bellin services in the community.
“We have an identity now which we didn’t have before,” she said. “We’re just able to offer a lot more in a lot better environment.”
“It’s a nice, new facility to better serve Oconto Falls and the surrounding community,” said counselor Dave Bell, whose behavioral health service is located at the clinic.
The 9,000-square-foot facility at 107 E. Highland Drive offers internal medicine and family practice services, X-ray, lab and behavioral health, among other services. It replaces the former clinic located inside HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital at 833 Main St., Oconto Falls.
Crews broke ground at the $2 million facility in March, and it opened Aug. 24.
“We’ve been here five weeks, enough time to make it feel like home,” said Sara Lentz, certified medical assistant and lab assistant.
The clinic is 23 percent larger than the space Bellin Health leased previously, with more spacious exam rooms and a new physical therapy area.
“Everything is so much roomier. What a big improvement,” said Marie Magnin, one of about 350 people who toured the building Wednesday.
“I think it’s great. I think it’s what they needed,” said Dawn Wellnitz, a patient at the clinic, at the open house.
The interior has a farm theme — plus a local flair. The artwork on the walls includes photos taken by Key and staffers Dr. William Wittman and Dr. Lucy Canaday. Key’s photos of Oconto Falls’ landmarks are displayed with Wittman’s pumpkin photos and ice drags images and Canaday’s farm photo.
“They couldn’t have gone out and bought anything prettier,” said Oconto Falls resident Jan Binkowski, while on her tour of the clinic.
“And it’s local,” added Audrey Teteak, of Oconto Falls.
“It’s very calming. We love that,” Key said.
The open house provided the public with its first look at the clinic, including the physical therapy area, a new service at the clinic. Physical therapist Raeann Bennett works at the clinic three days a week in a space with both a private room and open area.
“It’s something we found a lot of people are asking for,” said Tony Sachse, Bellin Health team facilitator of rural clinic therapies. He said 14 clinics in the Bellin system now offer physical therapy services.
“We love coming into these smaller clinics. For us, it’s been a very significant growth opportunity for Bellin as a whole and something physicians really like,” Sachse said.
Patients benefit, too, because they are more likely to follow through with treatment if physical therapy is offered in the same location as their health care provider.
“It helps patients get the care they really need and want and reduces the barriers to getting that care because of the convenience factor,” he said.
Other newly introduced services at the clinic are a mammography and bone densitometry mobile unit and orthopedics. The clinic is also equipped with modifications for individuals who use wheelchairs or have limited mobility, like its roll-on scale and extra-wide exam room doors. In addition, patients with physical limitations will no longer need to step up to a high exam table. The clinic has three exam tables that can be lowered to allow patients easy access.
Staff interaction also has a new look. In the center of the clinic is the co-location area, a space shared by the health care providers at the clinic, which fosters a more cohesive, team approach to care, Key said.
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