Community Health Care leaders along with Eastern Iowa Community College administrators, faculty and nursing students turn the dirt during a break in the rain at the groundbreaking for the new CHC Muscatine Clinic. CREDIT JIM ELIAS
MUSCATINE, Iowa – Under a downpour, dozens of community leaders and Muscatine Community College students turned out Thursday, April 17, for the groundbreaking here of a new Community Health Care, Inc. (CHC) clinic. Located on Eastern Iowa Community Colleges’ (EICC) Muscatine Community College campus at 1403 Park Avenue, the clinic will provide medical, dental and […]
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MUSCATINE, Iowa – Under a downpour, dozens of community leaders and Muscatine Community College students turned out Thursday, April 17, for the groundbreaking here of a new Community Health Care, Inc. (CHC) clinic. Located on Eastern Iowa Community Colleges’ (EICC) Muscatine Community College campus at 1403 Park Avenue, the clinic will provide medical, dental and behavioral health services to the Muscatine community.“A project like this doesn’t happen without the support and dedication of many stakeholders. The plans for a clinic in Muscatine date back nearly 20 years,” CHC Board Chair Katie Spain told the crowd huddled in the tent under the rain. Ms. Spain acknowledged EICC, UnityPoint Health/Trinity, the Muscatine County Health Department, local leaders along with the philanthropic community as key partners to helping to build a stronger, healthier Muscatine. The building project is estimated at $6 million. Community leaders also brought into focus the importance this expansion project has for Muscatine.Dr. Brad Bark, Muscatine’s mayor, told the audience that he knows firsthand the power of hands-on experience. Dr. Bark also is the president of the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry. “This clinic is more than just a building. It is a bridge to the future,” Dr. Bark said. “Healthcare is one of the top three needs in our community. This clinic is a workforce pipeline to careers that will transform lives both for caregivers and the patients that they serve.”Community Health Care Inc., headquartered in Davenport, has operated in Muscatine since 2020. The new clinic will consolidate primary care, behavioral health, dental and pharmaceutical services into one facility. CHC serves patients in need of affordable accessible healthcare.Dr. Naomi DeWinter, president of Muscatine Community College, told the QCBJ that CHC’s mission to serve that population – one that can be overlooked – is one of the most exciting part of this project.“Our own students will have benefits because they will have access to high-quality healthcare including medical, behavioral health, pharmaceutical services, dental care and primary care. To have this as a part of the campus I think is very, very unique and shows how well Muscatine works together to bring those services directly to the people who need it,” Ms. DeWinter added.According to the college president, healthcare students will be directly impacted by the completion through opportunities available for career fairs, job experiences, and clinicals in what will be a brand new building right on campus.“Students will be able to see the end, right from the beginning, and that’s a real sweet spot for us,” Ms. DeWinter told the QCBJ.“In fact, CHC has already started recruiting our students even before the clinic is built.”Nearly 20 MCC students and faculty members were on hand for the ground-breaking event. As the ceremonies concluded, the rain broke so MCC Nursing students dressed in their red scrubs could turn the dirt to officially start the construction of the Community Health Care Muscatine Clinic.“In my culture, rain on an event like this is a sign of good luck and prosperity,” Liang Chee Wee told the QCBJ with a smile. Mr. Wee was born in Singapore and is the interim chancellor for EICC.Bush Construction of Davenport is general contractor for the project designed by Vantage Architects of Davenport.
