CCHCI Douglas opens Acute Care Clinic

By Bruce Whetten bruce.whetten@myheraldreview.com

DOUGLAS − Chiricahua Community Health Centers Inc. (CCHCI) held a grand opening on Thursday, Aug. 1 for its new Acute Care Clinic which along with its pharmacy, will be located at 1111 F Ave. in Douglas.

The Chiricahua Acute Care Clinic is designed to provide immediate medical assistance for sudden illnesses and injuries that require prompt attention but are not severe enough for an emergency room visit.

The clinic aims to reduce the long waits often experienced in emergency rooms, ensuring patients receive the right care quickly and efficiently. Walk-Ins are welcomed and the clinic is open 8 a.m. to until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday closed 12-1 p.m. for lunch.

CCHCI has been a cornerstone of healthcare in the region committed to providing comprehensive high quality health care. The new Acute Care Clinic will be an extension of this commitment focusing on immediate, patient centered care that meets the needs of the community.

Dr. Jonathan Melk, CEO for CCHCI, said in 2005 when he was a “budding pediatrician” he drove down from Phoenix for a ribbon cutting ceremony at what is now the Ginger Ryan Clinic located just across the street from the Acute Care Center, Chiricahua had approximately 50 employees and clinics in Elfrida and Bisbee.

“Chiricahua Community Health Centers now serves a total of 35,000 patients throughout Cochise County including Douglas, Bisbee, Sierra Vista, Benson, Willcox, Elfrida and other Cochise County communities via our mobile services,” he said. “Despite all of the change and development I’d proud to say that the corporate headquarters of our great organization is still located at 1250 F Avenue, Douglas, Arizona. Chiricahua had approximately 460 employees of which 200 (almost half) call Douglas home.

“Our Douglas staff not only serves the primary care of more than 10,000 patients from the Douglas area but also provides support to our primary care services countywide. At Chiricahua we are proud to be a part of preserving our historic community and strategize to breathe new life directly into our neighborhoods whenever possible by renovating or saving current buildings that are meaningful to those that live here.”

Melk noted that both the Pediatric Center of Excellence as well as the Early Childhood Center both of which are located on 15th Street within several blocks of each other, were once schools in the Douglas Unified School District and the current Acute Care Center was once First Interstate Bank.

“This building now hosts our drive through patient pharmacy and now, an acute care center,” he said. The goal of this clinic will be to provide our patients, both adult and pediatric, with convenient timely care.”

Douglas Mayor Donald Huish was on hand for the event.

Huish said when various companies who express interest in relocating to Douglas they want to know about schools, jobs and healthcare.
While Douglas does not have a hospital Huish says he knows, from personal experience, the quality of healthcare that is provided here.
“And then you see the way Chiricahua has looked at our community and seen where the holes are,” he said. “Through the leadership of Dr. Melk and his staff, they have filled many of those holes.”
Huish tells those that are interested that their medical needs will be met here.

“I have every confidence in them, and I have no reason to doubt that” Huish said. “I appreciate Chiricahua so much. This is another gap in our community in acute care that has now been filled. I applaud them and appreciate them for filling this gap and making sure healthcare is provided in this wonderful community that we call home.”

Melany Edwards Barton, CEO of Sky Islands Regional Partnership presented Dr. Melk and his staff with a proclamation commemorating the event.