San Pedro Valley News-Sun Editorial
Editorial: A more permanent, prominent role
Published August 16, 2017 in the San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Announcement last week and a ceremonial groundbreaking on Monday for a new Chiricahua Community Health Center in Benson could be a signal of good things to come in our community.
And it couldn’t come at a better time for residents who find themselves without primary care. Although it will not ease that burden in the short term, the prospect of an added health care facility is beyond good in the long term for the San Pedro Valley and its cluster of communities.
The new center, to be located at 335 S. Ocotillo Ave., will encompass 19,000 square feet. Construction is expected to start in the very near future for the facility which will boast a “state of the art clinic… to provide the highest quality pediatric, adult, behavioral health, and dietetic care to the community,” according to CCHC.
There is no projected opening date affirmed as of yet, but CCHC is looking at a potential fall 2018 opening.
Once fully operational, the center will result in 30 new jobs and will bring eight new physicians to help care for valley residents, many of whom are underinsured or have no medical health insurance coverage.
A new facility and new jobs are good for Benson and the surrounding communities of Pomerene, St. David and J-Six and Mescal. Anytime jobs can be added to a slumping economy like ours is a good thing, and even more so when our economic demographic has shown that Cochise County has yet to recover from the Great Recession, with rural areas like ours taking the brunt of that scenario.
That those jobs are in the health-care field help provide a win-win for the community. Treating patients and offering a means to good health maintenance and wellness can only serve said patients and will also help save health care and insurance costs in the long run. It’s better to pay now and maintain a planned program then pay later when more acute and intensive care would require higher costs with relation to treatment and or hospitalization.
We’re hopeful that our new medical center facility is a sign of better things to come in our community.
It appears that need exists. We’re happy to have Chiricahua Community Health Centers providing care for our residents as we also welcome their more permanent and prominent role in our community.
Early Childhood Center of Excellence
Ginger Ryan Clinic
