EAGLE GROVE – The new Community Health Center of Eagle Grove will welcome its first patients Monday.

The center is in a former dental office at 306 W. Broadway St., and patients will still be getting their teeth and gums taken care of there. But the center will also offer primary health care.

In March, the Community Health Center of Fort Dodge purchased the office of Eagle Grove Family Dentistry after its owner, Dr. Mysty Shaver, announced she was moving from the area.

“Things really came together,” said Renae Kruckenberg, the chief executive officer of the Community Health Center.

“The need to keep access to dental services available to everyone in Wright County and the ability to add primary medical care is just a win- win for the community,” she added.

Opening the new facility has special meaning for Kruckenberg and Colleen Miller, the chief operating officer of the Community Health Center, because both of them grew up in Eagle Grove.

“Being from the area, it truly means so much to us personally that we can fill a need here with Community Health Center,” Kruckenberg said.

The months since the purchase was announced in March were spent working on the building, hiring staff and applying for grants.

Miller said new flooring was put down, the building was painted and new equipment was installed.

The new Eagle Grove office is staffed by a dentist, two dental assistants, two nurse practitioners, a clinical support staff person, a front desk registration worker and an office manager. A dental hygienist will be hired.

The health center accepts most private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. It also offers a sliding fee scale based on a patient’s ability to pay.

Appointments at the Eagle Grove office can be made by calling (515) 293-8111.