On Wednesday, September 15, 2020, Union Health and Valley Professionals Community Health Center held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of an extensive collaboration project in Clinton, Indiana. The goal was to continue improving the area’s access to rural and specialty health care.
“The opening of this health campus signifies Union Health’s ongoing commitment to improving access for thousands of rural residents in West Central Indiana, especially in Parke and Vermillion Counties,” Stephanie Laws, Vice President and Administrator of Union Hospital Clinton, said. “The culmination of this project demonstrates Union Health’s collaboration with Valley Professionals Community Health Center to ensure that our friends, families and neighbors can receive compassionate health care of the highest quality.”
“We had a lot of people do a lot of hard work and dedication to ensure this project went through,” Mayor Jack Gilfoy, City of Clinton, said. “There were definitely some bumps in the road, but everybody stayed focused. I am extremely proud of everyone that has helped make this possible. The citizens of the surrounding communities can look forward to coming here, improving the quality of their lives and giving them something they’ve not had before.”
Joining Clinton Mayor Jack Gilfoy for the ribbon-cutting ceremonies were Indiana Sen. Jon Ford (R-Terre Haute), Sen. Phil Boots (R-Crawfordsville), Rep. Bob Heaton (R-Terre Haute) and USDA Rural Development State Director Michael Dora. Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch served as guest speaker.
“As Hoosiers, we celebrate the risk-takers that blaze the trail for others,” Crouch said “We embrace the American dream and we know that with hard work, our dreams can become a reality. We see the evidence of that hard work today.”
Union Hospital Clinton unveiled Suite 200 - offering a variety of specialty services including: cardiology, orthopedics, podiatry, rehabilitation and emergency services closer to home.
In February 2008, Valley Professionals Community Health Center planted its roots with its first clinic in Clinton. Since then, the organization has expanded throughout West Central Indiana.
“Valley Professionals Community Health Center is a federally qualified health center, which means we are a community-based organization that provides access to comprehensive integrated healthcare to all individuals and families regardless of ability to pay,” TJ Warren, CEO of Valley Professionals Community Health Center, said. “The health of a population contributes to the success and vitality of a community. Your trust has led us to this point where we stand together at a new clinic that will bring further healthcare access to Vermillion County.”
The state-of-the-art facility now houses 35 exam rooms, six behavioral treatment rooms, a large group room for substance abuse treatment, and corporate offices. Valuable services including dental, primary care, chiropractic care, woman’s health services, and psychiatry are now being offered.
The partnership between Valley Professionals and Union Health forms an inclusive health campus in which residents can be seen for a large variety of health care needs in a central location.
“When I travel the state, I run into a lot of communities that cannot put down the colors of the past and those battles go on. However, I don’t see those battles here. It’s refreshing; the collaboration,” Michael Dora, State Director for USDA Rural Development in Indiana, said. “Now, we have a one-stop-shop, centrally located that will serve a lot of people.”
“When your family members, when members of our community and others need to come to our campus for healthcare services – whether it be at Union Hospital Clinton or Valley Professionals Community Health Center – the highest safety standards will be adhered to in order to make sure your family is safe,” Laws said. “We are ready to accept you!”
Funding for the multimillion-dollar project came from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Union Health is an integrated health system and the Wabash Valley’s largest employer. Union Health consists of Union Hospital, Union Hospital Clinton, and Union Medical Group. The organizations that makeup Union Health have a long tradition of serving the health care needs of West Central Indiana and East Central Illinois residents for more than 125 years. Union Health’s mission is to provide compassionate health care of the highest quality while leading the community to their best health and wellness.