Pocatello Free Clinic moves locations with new services
The passing of Proposition 2 in November was a huge step towards getting more people insured with health care. Unfortunately, there will still be people who won’t have access to medical services. The Pocatello Free Clinic has been aiding that vulnerable population for decades. However, now, they’ll be able to provide more services to even more people.
The regions new Southeast Idaho Behavioral Crisis Center will be co-located with the Pocatello Free Clinic, allowing behavioral health services to be integrated with the medical services. Patients will have the opportunity to be seen in one location for both medical and mental health needs.
“This is very exciting, not only for me but the staff as well as patients and the board,” said the Executive Director of the Pocatello Free Clinic Christina Potts. “I do believe once we get up and running the community will see the impact as well.”
The Portneuf Health Trust provided much of the funding towards this new facility. Shaun Menchaca, CEO of the Portneuf Health Trust says this has been a long time coming and these services are needed.
“When you have people who need service from both mental health perspectives that could get medical services, and from also a medical perspective, those who need mental health services together, it just creates a synergy that wasn’t here before,” Menchaca said.
Renovation of the facility has already begun and is anticipated to be finished by this spring. In addition to space, the partnership allows patients at both clinics to have access to services that were not offered in the past. The board of directors and the staff at PFC are thankful for the support from Portneuf Health Trust and Portneuf Medical Center.
