Renovations to the Norwalk Health Center are nearing completion. Construction, led by La Crosse-based general contractor/construction manager, Market and Johnson, Inc., and local area subcontractors, is slated to be completed by February 2023. A grand reopening event and wellness fair will be held on March 28, 2023.
Scenic Bluffs opened the Norwalk Health Center in 1999 to help meet the needs of the local area. What was once the location of the Norwalk school and bus garage became Scenic Bluffs’ second Health Center location, a center for providing comprehensive primary healthcare services in the Norwalk community. Renovation to the Norwalk Health Center, an 8,100 square foot facility, not only focused on updating the looks of the Health Center, but also restructuring the layout to improve patient flow and increase space for clinical and administrative services. “This renovation is about so much more than providing updated facilities to our patients. It is also about a major reinvestment in the community of Norwalk,” said Kim Hawthorne, CEO of Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers. “By growing our presence in Norwalk, we hope to bring new people into this community to experience its charm and all it has to offer. By increasing the number of people in the community, other businesses also have an opportunity to grow.”
The Health Center currently houses primary medical and chiropractic care, with new space available for behavioral health and patient support services, such as health educators, interpreters and Scenic Bluffs’ Help Team. Health Center hours and services will be expanded as the demand for services continues to grow. In addition to clinical and patient support services, the Norwalk Health Center also received renovations to the kitchen area attached to the community space.
As a Community Health Center, also known as a Federally Qualified Health Center, Scenic Bluffs helps increase access to crucial primary care by reducing barriers such as cost, lack of insurance, distance and language for patients. “We know that it isn’t just barriers such as cost or insurance that affect the ability for people to receive the care they need,” said Hawthorne. “We also need to have services in the geographical locations where our patients live and work that offer accessible service hours to receive care. By reinvesting in our Norwalk Health Center, we can continue to be a hub for primary care and community health resources in the area, with room to grow to fit our communities’ needs.”
Renovation to the Norwalk Health Center was made possible by funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to support Health Center infrastructure and reduce healthcare disparities in underserved areas. More information on the Grand Reopening will be released in upcoming weeks.
The project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $583,622 with 31% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.