La Pine, Oregon (KTVZ) – La Pine Community Health Center officially broke ground on a major campus expansion project on August 10th. The centerpiece of the project is his 27,000-square-foot new wellness center on the adjacent three floors. To the current medical and administrative buildings adjacent to First Street, Bluewood Avenue, Huntington Road in La Pine.
The landmark event was attended by local, county and state officials as well as South County residents, including LCHC staff, officers and volunteers. Speakers included State Representative E. Werner Leschke, Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang, and LCHC CEO Erin Trapp. Other notable attendees included Deschutes County Commissioners Tony Devourne and Patti Adair, representatives of Stemach Design and Architecture and general contractor Skanska.
Other attendees included former CEO Charla de Haight, under whose leadership the vision for the wellness center was developed. US Senator Ron Wyden visited the site on August 12 to show his continued support for LCHC, which began in 2009 when LCHC became a federally accredited health center.
“The driving force behind this campus expansion is our commitment to ensuring that all people, regardless of socioeconomic status, have access to quality health care in our community,” said CEO Erin Trapp. “The unwavering dedication of our staff, the support of our collaborative partners, and the trust of our patients have all contributed to making La Pine Community Health Center a beacon of hope and healing within our community and beyond. “
In recognition of the support and advocacy of US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Markley, Rep. Leschke and Deschutes County Commissioner, this support secured $3 million in state funding and $3.1 million in federal funding. “Access to modern healthcare is essential for a healthy community,” Leschke said in a comment.
The objectives of the $14 million project are to:
- Increase community access to primary care, dental services and mental health programs
- Add access to imaging modalities such as mammograms, CT scans, and ultrasounds.
- Expand community health education and advocacy programs
- Provide childcare resources for LCHC staff and help recruit, retain and strengthen staff
For more information about La Pine Community Health Center and its services, please visit www.lapinehealth.org or contact Courtney Ignazzitto (541) 876-2135 or cignazzitto@lapinehealth.org.