Bothwell closes on building that will expand walk-in services in Sedalia

Bothwell Regional Health Center has finalized the purchase of a building on Sedalia’s east side that will become its second walk-in clinic.

In April, Bothwell had the winning bid of $187,000 in an online auction for the building and officially closed on May 6. Located at 700 S. Hancock Ave., the building was formerly the medical office for family medicine physician Dr. Joy Gronstedt. Bothwell CEO Lori Wightman said the opportunity to purchase the building came up after Gronstedt retired and put the building up for auction.

“We have been looking for property in that vicinity for several years as part of our overarching goal to increase access to health care services,” she said. “We presented our plan to the Sedalia City Council, which was required before proceeding with the purchase.”

New Mayor Andrew Dawson said the health center’s planning and council’s decision to purchase the property came during the mayoral transition and that council unanimously supported the proposal.

“Mayor Kehde was very gracious, and he included me in all the site visits and discussions regarding costs,” Dawson said. “The decision to purchase the building was weighed carefully. The upfront investment costs were researched and weighed against the public good.”

Dawson said the council supports Bothwell and understood that opening another clinic on Sedalia’s east side will benefit the community and is a sound financial decision.

“It will provide services to an otherwise underserved area and make health care more accessible to those residing in the area as well as in eastern Pettis County. Better access to health care equals a better quality of life for Sedalia’s residents,” he said. “Beyond that, the walk-in clinic will help with the financial stability of our hospital. It is vital to not only the health and well-being of our residents but also the economic vitality of our community.”

While the building was already a medical clinic, Bothwell plans to renovate the inside to add exam rooms, create a shared reception space and make aesthetic updates to the exterior. Renovations should be complete in late summer, and the new clinic is slated to open in August first offering walk-in health care services. Future plans include adding a primary care clinic in the building.

Wightman said providing people access to convenient and lower-cost health care services is the reason for the new clinic.

“We know the more opportunities people have to see a health care professional it improves their overall health and wellness,” she said. “It’s also about creating connections with someone in your neighborhood that you trust and who can help you feel better when you’re sick or hurt. Having strong patient and health care relationships can absolutely contribute to better detection and prevention of serious illness in the long run.”

The Hancock location will be Bothwell’s second walk-in clinic. The first opened in February 2019 on the first floor of the Healing Arts Center at 3700 W. 10th Street.

Bothwell’s walk-in clinics are staffed by Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants who treat people who do not have a primary care clinician or need to be seen for their minor illness or injury within a few hours. The staff treats coughs, cold or flu symptoms; rashes and allergic reactions; aches and pains; ear and sinus infections; minor cuts, burns or falls; stomach pain including nausea or diarrhea; muscle or joint sprains or strains, as well as work, school or athletic physicals.

Walk-in services do not include medication refills, follow-up visits from appointments related to diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol or other chronic conditions, or emergency needs such as heart attacks, stroke or broken bones that should be seen in the Emergency Department. To learn more about finding the right care at the right time, visit brhc.org/know.