(Shoshoni, WY) – Construction on Shoshoni’s new medical clinic is nearing completion and is currently scheduled to open for patients on January 14th.
The building, located at 702 E 2nd Street, has undergone a significant remodel since mid-September; transforming the former Left Tackle Bar into a medical clinic and physical therapy center.
Thermopolis-based Hot Springs Memorial Hospital will be providing the physicians and staff at this clinic a few days a week. This also includes the Gottsche Rehabilitation Center which will also become a wellness center for the community, Gottsche Maintenance Supervisor Mike Kappus shared.
The clinic has two large exam rooms, a receiving room, a waiting area, a nurse’s station, and more. All that remains for this portion of the building are assembling a few furniture pieces and minor touch-ups.
The Gottsche Rehabilitation Center in the other half of the building is still under construction, which will be completed in the next two weeks, shared Contractor Brad Brink.
In July, the Town of Shoshoni was awarded $254,902 in CARES Act funding to convert the building and purchase medical equipment for a clinic. Knowing getting this funding was a long shot, they decided to go for it anyway and received the award, Mayor Joel Highsmith explained.
A medical clinic in Shoshoni has been on Mayor Highsmith and Councilmember Beau Weaver’s bucket list for rejuvenating the town.
“We were working on this project prior to CARES funding coming available,” said Highsmith. “This put us a year ahead of schedule.”
COVID definitely created obstacles for this process, including delaying construction by two weeks. However, they overcame everything and are still going to hit that end of year deadline that comes along with CARES Act funds.
“Brad has been working night and day to complete this construction,” Highsmith continued. He’s there early in the morning, late at night, and sometimes overnight.
Aside from construction, medical equipment has been difficult to get.
“The hard part was getting all of this equipment in here when we are not a hospital or a medical center; we are a town,” Police Chief and Town Clerk Chris Konija said.
Though a difficult few months, better healthcare for Shoshoni is the goal and has been the driver for the project. The age demographic for the town is older and this clinic provides easy accessibility for the seniors, Councilmember Weaver explained.
Konija also noted that a lot of people don’t go to the doctor because they are not able to travel.
An open house meet and greet for the clinic is being planned for January 11th. County 10 will keep you updated as more information is released.