New County Health Clinic Under Construction in Palm Springs
PALM SPRINGS – This week is National Health Center Week, and Riverside County is breaking ground on a new, larger community health center in Palm Springs to expand health services to all individuals in need, regardless of ability to pay.
The future 35,000-square-foot community health center, at the northwest corner of E. Tahquitz Canyon Way and N. Sunrise Way, will provide a new location for the Palm Springs Family Care Center and offer significantly larger space for more services.
The expanded clinic is designed for the integration of mental health and substance use services alongside primary care, dental and pharmacy services for uninsured, underinsured, and underserved residents. Construction is expected to be completed by summer 2021.
“Community health centers came out of the vision of the civil rights and social justice movements of the 1960s, as an initiative to improve the health and lives of Americans affected by poverty,” said Supervisor Perez. “Today, we continue to build on that legacy with the expansion of our community health center in Palm Springs that will deliver care to the most vulnerable. I also wish to acknowledge the Desert AIDS Project for making this expansion possible. Our efforts together will provide increased access to health care in the Coachella Valley.”
Riverside County’s health care system, the Riverside University Health System, provides primary and specialty care at 10 community health centers throughout the county. Services at these Federally Qualified Health Centers include: primary care, cancer screening, family planning, pregnancy testing and counseling, perinatal care, sexually transmitted disease services, adult and pediatric immunizations, tuberculosis skin testing, dental care, child health services and nutrition.
“Riverside University Health System is dedicated to the delivery of excellent clinical care and improving access to care for patients. With this new clinic, patients will have available to them an array of primary and specialty services as well as exceptional providers, all in one convenient location. We are grateful to Riverside County and the Board of Supervisors for their backing and supporting our team as we fulfill our mission to serve the healthcare needs of everyone in our community. Our team looks forward to being able to serve more patients and welcoming them to this new facility,” stated Jennifer Cruikshank, Chief Executive Office, Riverside University Health System - Medical Center & Clinics.
The current Palm Springs Family Care Center is located at 1515 N. Sunrise Way, adjacent to the Desert AIDS Project main building. The Desert AIDS Project purchased the center from the county in 2018 and began renovating the center and providing services in this shared space.
When the county’s new clinic is built, it will be even more impactful to health care in the Coachella Valley as the Desert AIDS Project will be able to fully utilize the building and continue its campus expansion.
“The Palm Springs Family Care Center has long been DAP’s partner in providing primary care,” said David Brinkman, Desert AIDS Project CEO. “We are very pleased to see the expansion of their offerings and facilities in Palm Springs. Together, we are increasing healthcare access and removing roadblocks to health and wellness.”
During the construction period, Riverside County will continue providing services to residents at the existing Palm Springs Family Care Center.
