Health clinic opening in Hungry Horse in a few weeks

Flathead City-County Health Department is opening a health clinic in the Canyon Elementary School May 26. School District 6 approved a building use agreement with the health department at its April board meeting.

The two-year agreement allows the health department to hold a clinic on Thursdays and use the general office and reception area, principal’s and nurses’ offices and two classrooms. The health department will pay $50 per day for a total annual payment of $2,600 to the district.

The clinic will be open to patients 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment only, but walk-ins will be fit in if possible. Patients can call for same-day appointments.

“Over time we’ll look at expanding to additional days,” Jody White, Flathead Community Health Center executive director, said Tuesday.

The department will negotiate its agreement with the school district every two years, but will be able to add clinic days at any time if necessary, she said.

The clinic will provide family practice medical services such as treatment of acute and chronic illnesses and minor injuries, lab services, well-child visits, immunizations, sports physicals, family planning, minor surgical procedures and prescription assistance. If there’s a need, a behavioral health counselor will be brought on site. Dr. John Tremper will be the primary provider. 

Family planning services will include birth control, pregnancy testing and sexually transmitted infection testing, but they won’t be able to provide prenatal care. The clinic will have to refer X-ray services, but the county is working to provide those in Columbia Falls, White said.

The health department is opening the clinic in order to provide better physical access as well as financial access to health care.

“Our goal is access to health care, be it medical, dental or behavioral health. That’s part of our mission,” White said. “We’re very excited to provide that in another community.”

If this first satellite clinic is successful, the health department can use it as a model for future clinics to help provide more access to care in the valley, White said.

The clinic will accept Medicaid, Medicare and most private insurance. It also offers a sliding fee scale for services.

The Canyon School is also used by the Canyon Baptist Church and the All Saints Episcopal Church for community events and meals. The district’s building use policy limits use to non-profits that are benefiting the community.

White will present information about the clinic at the Canyon Community Dinner on Thursday at the school. Food is served at 5:30 p.m.

To make an appointment or for more information, call the Flathead Community Health Center at 751-8113. The Canyon School is at 200 North St. in Hungry Horse.