With shovels, hardhats and smiles, local and regional leaders recently joined a groundbreaking ceremony to launch construction of a Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Group (YRMG) family and specialty medicine clinic.
The 10,000-square-foot facility is scheduled for completion in mid-2023. Located on the corner of Highway 69 and North Lee Boulevard in Prescott, the clinic will be constructed on land previously owned by Prescott-area entrepreneur and philanthropist Jim Lee, who joined the groundbreaking festivities.
Before the first ceremonial scoops of soil, groundbreaking participants spoke about the collaborative spirit surrounding the development of the new YRMG clinic. Several noted that Dignity Health includes different communities with different needs, all of which are united by a common mission of caring.
YRMC affiliated with Dignity Health in 2019. The national network is comprised of 1,000 care sites in 21 states.
YRMG’s provider clinics are part of Dignity Heath, Yavapai Regional Medical Center, which includes two acute care hospitals – one in Prescott and one in Prescott Valley – and a comprehensive network of outpatient services.
Anthony Torres, MD, FACP, President and CEO, Dignity Health, YRMC, expressed enthusiasm about the new clinic.
“This project has special meaning for me,” explained Dr. Torres. “I began my career with YRMC as a primary care physician at one of our first medical group practices.”
Patient-Centered Care & Design
Groundbreaking participants emphasized that every decision regarding the new clinic – from its location to its layout – focuses on the needs of patients.
Kalie Valencia, Vice President, YRMG and Dignity Health Medical Group Nevada, noted that state-of-the-art clinical platforms will ensure the delivery of high quality healthcare and floor plans will make the facility easy for patients to navigate. The clinic will also incorporate modern design – colors, art and furnishings – to create a pleasing environment for patients.
“To me, this building illustrates a commitment,” Valencia said. “It illustrates our commitment to the community to invest in and expand upon the healthcare services here locally and deliver convenient, patient-centered care to our patients.”
That care will be provided by an excellent team of primary care physicians and advanced clinical practitioners. Physician specialists will also utilize the state-of-the-art facility on a rotating basis.
A Thriving Healthcare Network
From their introduction in 2009, the clinics were an important addition to the community. Patient visits grew by 10 to 15 percent each of the subsequent years. Currently, the YRMG provider network includes 26 physician clinics with more than 300 clinical and non-clinical staff. Located throughout Prescott, Prescott Valley and Chino Valley, the YRMG physician clinics saw 320,000 patient visits in 2021.
Neighborhood-Based Healthcare
Meeting the unique healthcare needs of our growing community is important to Dignity Health, YRMC. Speakers at the groundbreaking event noted the new YRMG clinic drills down further to address neighborhood healthcare needs.
“I believe in neighborhoods,” said Steve Sischka, who serves on the Prescott City Council and the Dignity Health, YRMC Board of Trustees. “I also believe in people working, playing and shopping in their neighborhood. This new clinic is going to offer the opportunity for people to have medical services in their neighborhood.”
Sischka noted that the clinic will boost the local economy by bringing healthcare jobs to the community. It will also reduce traffic on major highways and streets by allowing people to access healthcare services in their neighborhood.
Innovation for the Future
Kat Rondeau, Chief Strategy Officer, Dignity Health, Southwest Division, emphasized that the clinic is an example of the kind of healthcare innovation Yavapai County will experience in the future.
“As the community grows and evolves and as healthcare grows and evolves we have the ability to deliver care in a different way,” Rondeau said. “What you’re going to see are innovations and solutions that we didn’t typically have at our fingertips that we will be able to bring to communities.”
Those innovations will mean, for example, new healthcare service lines, facilities and the use of virtual healthcare.
“This is the tip of the iceberg as far as the Dignity Health-YRMC partnership is concerned,” said Dr. Torres. “There will be many more projects happening with new buildings and new facilities and new services spread throughout the quad-city area. We’re just getting started.”
Stay in the Know
Keep up-to-date on healthcare happenings at YRMC and the community by subscribing to YRMC HealthConnect (YRMCHealthConnect.org).
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Submitted by Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Group