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Construction on track at new health clinic at Quinn’s

Patrick Parkinson, Of the Record staff

Like many communities, the Park City area is seeing more people without health insurance as the town grows in a down economy. Keeping them healthy is the mission of the People’s Health Clinic, which is slated to move in November from Kearns Boulevard into a bigger facility at Quinn’s Junction.

The building that will house People’s Health alongside the Summit County Health Department is nearly complete.

Waiting times for an appointment have increased as the patient load at People’s Health nearly doubled last year, said Parkite Charlie Wintzer, a member of the clinic’s board of directors.

The clinic had about 4,800 patient visits in 2008.

"Our philosophy is that our community is only as healthy as the sickest person in the community," said Wintzer. "Any kid that we see probably goes to one of the Park City schools, and any adults we treat work in Park City in food service or property management."

Meanwhile, the health department has also outgrown its offices at the Sheldon Richins Building. In exchange for leasing land at Quinn’s Junction for new offices for the department for $1 per year, Intermountain Healthcare asked Summit County to return the favor to People’s Health.

"Basically, we both serve uninsured people, so it really makes sense that we work as a team," Wintzer said about the public-private partnership. "There are other models of that in the state and in other states."

Summit County will lease a portion of its building to the People’s Health Clinic for $1 per year, Wintzer explained about the new 25,000-square-foot facility.

Rather than adding needless visits to an emergency room, County Health Department Director Steve Jenkins says by cooperating with the clinic more children will be immunized and expectant mothers will be healthier on delivery days.

Large windows let natural light flow into the shared waiting area in the building where the People’s Health Clinic will have about 5,000 square-feet.

"I think they’ve got a children’s play area right over here, if I’m not mistaken," said Jenkins in an interview at the work site Wednesday.

The construction is on time and under budget.

"The building should be ready to be occupied the first part of November," Summit County Engineer Derrick Radke said. "The budget is $7.4 million and we’re currently just under a half-million under budget."

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