LCMC Seeking Permit For Holbrook Medical Center

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By Tammy Gray-Searles
    “This will plant the flag and get us started over there,” Little Colorado Medical Center (LCMC) CEO Jeff Hamblen said regarding a medical center in Holbrook that could be open before the end of the year.
    Although LCMC has been planning for the last several years to open a clinic in Holbrook, the first major step was recently taken when a modular building was ordered. Hamblen explained that a lease agreement has been worked out with local businessman Bill Jeffers for property located on West Vista Road, between the city fleet maintenance shop and the airport.
    “Bill Jeffers has been a very good supporter of Holbrook and meeting the medical needs,” Hamblen remarked. “He stepped up and has made the land available for a very fair amount.”
    The location must receive approval from the Holbrook Planning and Zoning Commission before construction can begin. According to Hamblen, the area is zoned for light commercial and LCMC will be asking for a conditional use permit to operate the clinic in the light industrial park.
    “We’re hoping it’s not a problem,” he said.
    The modular building is planned as a temporary measure until the clinic is well established. Long-term plans call for a permanent building that will provide space for more than a few physicians.
    Although he did not have the dimensions readily available, Hamblen said the modular building is for a small clinic, and will include just enough space for a physician’s office, two or three exam rooms, a waiting area and a staffing area.
    “This will get us started and we’ll build something more permanent and elaborate later,” Hamblen noted.
    Hours for the clinic have not yet been set, but there will be several types of physicians staffing the clinic on different days, including family practice doctors, surgeons and obstetricians. Hamblen explained that surgery will be done elsewhere, but the surgeons will be able to more conveniently conduct exams, plan treatment and hold follow-up visits for Holbrook patients.
    “The physicians from here (Winslow) will conduct clinics there on a regular basis,” he said. “It will bring more adult medicine to the community.”
    Hamblen noted that Holbrook is in need of more primary care providers, as well as specialty physicians.
    According to Hamblen, the details of what type of physicians will staff the Holbrook clinic on certain days still need to be worked out. For now, the focus is on construction and receiving approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission.
    The new center will be an outreach clinic of the LCMC, and will operate under the same governing board.
    Hamblen noted that an exact timeline for construction has not yet been set, but he expects it to be completed by the end of the year.
    “It depends on Planning and Zoning and the delivery date for the unit,” he said, “but we should be up and running this year.”