With 8,000 additional square feet of space after the renovation, capacity for dental services will increase 50% from eight chairs to 12. Behavioral services will also see significant increases, with four additional offices and new providers. The new changes will also allow for a dedicated behavioral health waiting room and space for group therapy sessions (instead of just individual therapy sessions.)

The lower level of the building will be renovated and converted to allow the increased capacity as well as a new spaces for staff like a break room, locker room and conference room.

A grant of $1 million will help with the project, which was already in the works before CHC received it. Renae Kruckenberg, CEO of CHC, said the increased capacity is needed more now with behavioral health providers at capacity.

“I think (demand for services) was growing before COVID, and since COVID hit, the (need for) mental health (services) has increased,” Kruckenberg said, telling The Messenger that loneliness from increased isolation in the pandemic has taken a big toll on mental health. “They need somebody to talk to, reach out to, to realize they’re not alone and (that) mental health is important and they still need to make sure they’re happy and healthy.”

-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
Holly McClintock is one of Community Health Center of Fort Dodge's current psychiatric nurse practitioners. Thanks to a $1 million grant, CHC will be undergoing an expansion to add behavioral health services and dental services.

With providers at capacity, she said there are now patients on waiting lists for services – a list that largely did not exist before the pandemic.

“We have providers maxed out with the patients they can see,” the CEO said, with current housing not ideal for accommodating additional staff. “When the need is there, we try to meet the need in the community.”

A new therapist, who started in October, has seen her schedule fill up as well. A new dentist started in July and a family practice nurse practitioner is planning to complete certification soon. Another dentist and psychiatric nurse practitioner will soon help with the number of patients in the future.

CHC currently has two prescribing behavioral health providers, three therapist offices and two offices used by psychologists.

Group therapy in a large space that allows for social distancing will also be beneficial in being able to fill needs in different ways.

“The big thing for group therapy is you have other people there that are going through the common issues and concerns you are,” Kruckenberg said. “If you need peer networking, a lot of times they connect with people and can have somebody outside of therapy to reach out to and talk to. Everybody is there for the same reason and a common goal, so they can have that feeling that they’re not alone.”

The renovation will be let for bidding this spring, with hopes for completion by the end of the year. The project was designed by Allers Associates Architects, of Fort Dodge.