From cramped quarters in four downtown buildings, Powell’s community health center, One Health, is beginning operations today (Tuesday) in its own new and expanded facilities.

It’s a big expansion: from about 6,500 square feet downtown to just shy of 12,000 square feet.

The new clinic is at 1201 E. Seventh Street, across Road 8 to the east of the Powell High School campus and a corner crossing away from Homesteader Park. The new One Health grows out of a complete rebuild on the property known for years as the Fitch Building.

The final cost of renovation came in around $6.6 million, with $4.6 million in grants offsetting most of those costs.  

One Health is leaving side-by-side rented facilities at 126 N. Bent, 128 N. Bent, 130 N. Bent Suite A and 130 N. Bent Suite B in downtown Powell. The community health center has been operating in Powell since September, 2015, first known as Heritage Health Center. It merged in 2022 with One Health, a large community health center with Montana roots, and has branch satellite clinics in Greybull, Lovell and Cody.

Colette Mild, executive vice president and chief financial officer of One Health, praised the benefit of space “redesigned and renovated with our clinic needs in mind.”

While the clinic has had around 6,500 square feet total downtown, “not one building was really built for a health center so they took a toll on efficiencies in flow and shared spaces between our departments. The new space was designed to create an environment where we can really embrace our integrated model which focuses on treating the whole person (medical, behavioral and social health)," Mild said.

“Our staff was able to be an integral part of the building design and took extra time to think through what was best for our patients."

The new main entrance for One Health clinic is off a parking lot with plentiful parking on the east side of the building (which used to be the rear of the building). 

One new element of the clinic is a drive-through garage. Mild said she gets a lot of questions: Why the garage?

“We have had many patients who aren’t able to ambulate, and getting into and out of the clinic can be very taxing. This is especially difficult if they need something simple like a finger stick for a lab test," she said. "In the new building, a patient can call ahead and drive through the garage for the service they need without the hassle, and at times severe pain, of having to get in and out of a vehicle.” 

Heather Sanders, regional medical director for the clinic, also emphasized the benefit of all staff and departments under one roof.

“Our new larger space will allow increased accessibility for our providers to see patients,” Sanders said. “We will continue to offer the same services, but with additional services planned in the future. Some of those services will include vaccines for children and dental services.”

The clinic currently has eight providers available to see patients in Powell. They include Dr. Sarah Sowerwine, Joseph Davidson PA-C, Heather Sanders PA-C, Julie Agee FNP, Lisa Christen FNP, Angela Redder PA-C, Landon George FNP and Ethan DuCharme PA-C. These providers also have clinic days in the Cody, Lovell and Greybull clinics.

One Health served over 3,000 unique patients at its Powell location in the last year and over 5,000 unique patients Big Horn Basin-wide. Total patient visits in the last year totaled more than 14,000. 

“We are thrilled that we have been able to work with our other community partners, including the schools, hospitals, clinics, radiology partners and other non-profits in the basin, and hope the new building will enhance those services and partnerships,” Mild said.

Care at the community health center is provided on a sliding fee scale, which starts at zero and extends to $45 for medical visits. 

Plan One was selected as architect for the project, and Sletten Construction was the contractor, with Casey Waltari, project manager.

Community health center grows in answer to need, says original supporter

Local dentist Larry Akin has been involved in the growth of the community health center in Powell since its birth and remains a strong supporter of One Health as it moves into expanded facilities in its 10th year.

He recalled the early days of planning that led to the formal creation of a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and the planning groundwork over several years that led to the opening of then Heritage Health Center in September of 2015. He served as board chair of HHC in its early days and retired from that position before HHC merged with One Health.

"I was asked by Dr. Nick Morris to attend the very first community meeting in the hospital cafeteria where the FQH was proposed. I believe that was nearly 15 years ago,” Akin said. "Under the direction of Bill and Sharon Baker, the Powell Healthcare Coalition was formed. That original coalition included Bill and Sharon Baker, Dave Bonner, Dave Whittle and myself.”

Akin said he agreed to join the Powell Healthcare Coalition to help investigate the need and the feasibility of a FQHC.

"As a dental provider I had experienced firsthand the need for more dental and medical services for both the underserved and the uninsured sectors of our community. As this steering committee progressed, more people (including government officials) realized that this was a very viable project. We were awarded a grant from the State of Wyoming to proceed with the project.”

Akin said the single most important decision made along the way was to hire Colette Mild as CEO.

"She possessed the knowledge, the expertise, and the energy to make this a reality. Once approved by the (federal) Department of Health and Human Services, we formed a board to help guide the process under the guidance of Colette,” Akin said. "The next significant employee we hired was Dr. Juanita Sapp (as medical director).”

"Once the clinic was up and running, doing well, and was in good hands, I decided that it was time for me to step aside," he said. "I am so pleased that what started as a good idea from a couple of visionary people, the clinic is now once again expanding and providing medical services to so many people in the Big Horn Basin."