United Hospital District (UHD) has expanded its presence in Fairmont with a large financial investment.
Recently, UHD announced it was purchasing the Dulcimer Medical Center and property that includes a medical and dental practice.
Will that have an impact on the hospital district’s clinic in Winnebago, which has been closed for more than a year? UHD also operates clinics in Fairmont and Wells.
“We do not intend to close the Winnebago clinic as some have assumed,” says Rick Ash, UHD CEO. “Our goal remains to open the clinic again.”
The COVID pandemic and workforce factors, says Ash, have stalled efforts to begin the reopening process.
Angie Stier, the city’s business development specialist, says officials have met with Ash to discuss the clinic’s future.
Although no specific date to reopen was given, Stier says they were reassured UHD has “full intentions” of maintaining the clinic.
“Staffing the location has been an issue and the building is in need of repairs to bring it back to an operational level,” she says.
Cost of repairs needed at the clinic were not available as well as the price tag for the Dulcimer acquisition.
Ash says because UHD operates as a private non-profit organization, how much was spent to buy Dulcimer is private information.
As a hospital district, UHD does have the power to levy property taxes for projects the board of directors deem necessary.