HealthWorks, a community health clinic serving the uninsured and underserved in southeast Wyoming since 2005, has officially opened its new location at 506 W. 17th St. in downtown Cheyenne. The facility, which tripled the clinic’s size, was celebrated at a Thursday night event where patients helped cut the ribbon for the building.
Project Funding and Expansion
The approximately $17 million project was funded through a combination of ARPA funds, the New Market Tax Credit Program, nonprofit reserves and savings, and a mortgage on the building, according to Chief Executive Officer Tracy Brosius. The expansion allows HealthWorks to serve more patients, expand services, and recruit new providers across medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy offerings.
Improved Accessibility
The downtown location addresses a key barrier for vulnerable populations. “Being more centrally located, we’re obviously gonna be more accessible for certain populations that we see, one being with the homeless population,” said nurse practitioner James Hartman, noting that the central location makes it easier for people staying at the COMEA shelter to access care on foot.
The new facility also provides more efficient care delivery. Hartman stated that “allowing them to have this nice building, have this new equipment, provide them — not necessarily better care, because I think we’ve always done that — but more efficient care, it’s something very important.”
Service Statistics and Coverage
In 2024, HealthWorks served 2,814 patients, 580 of whom were uninsured, and filled 22,753 prescriptions at its pharmacy. The clinic serves everyone regardless of financial status and offers a sliding-scale fee structure for income-eligible patients while accepting most insurance. The clinic is currently staffed with social workers, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, case managers, and pharmacists, with plans to expand dental services.
Brosius emphasized the clinic’s holistic approach, addressing housing, familial responsibilities, finances, and food insecurity as factors influencing healthcare decisions. “Whatever you’re facing, we can help people with all those pieces, because those are things that make humans human,” she said.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/healthworkss-new-location-expected-to-be-more-accessible-for-patients-and-providers/article_95ed73e5-5a0d-472d-8b5f-bbf7543dfbdb.html