Planada Medical Clinic set to reopen after several months of repairs from flooding
The clinic in Planada is located on Broadway Street near Sutter Street and will be open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.
MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Planada Health Center is open once again after having to close down for months due to extreme flooding from storms in January.
The center is the only medical clinic that serves the Planada community.
Action News spoke to patients who say they are relieved that they no longer have to travel for their health care.
"It's closer to our home, we don't have to be going all the way to Merced to be taking our kid to the doctor," said Cristina Ramirez, a Planada resident.
Like many residents, Cristina Ramirez is thankful health services have restarted near home, but that's just one step in the process of getting Planada back up and running.
The fire department and post office remain closed.
The health center also had to undergo some major renovations including brand new floors.
"I can't speak to the other buildings and their condition or their structure, you know I consider ourselves incredibly lucky to be able to reopen," said Cynthia Mcafee, Director of Operations with Golden Valley Health Centers.
Family practice services resumed Thursday and behavioral health services are set to come next week.
"From Monday onwards other services will come like labs will be here, all the blood work. They don't have to go to Chowchilla or Merced anymore," said Jasjit Gill, Family Nurse Practitioner with Golden Valley Health Centers.
Organizers say the lack of local healthcare has been grueling.
"We had to instantly in January shift our patients to a different location right away," explained Mcafee.
Patients were first redirected to Merced, then to Le Grand, and finally, a mobile used two days a week unit on site.
"Right here it's just much closer to my home, I don't have to drive that far and it's more convenient because also the clinic is much bigger," added Ramirez.
Moving forward, virtual care and transportation will continue to be available for patients on a case-by-case basis.
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