By: NICOLAS FIERRO
Salina Post
A celebration for the groundbreaking of Salina Family Healthcare Center's (SFHC) brand new facility occurred Thursday afternoon.
This $60 million project to establish the new facility has received the support federally, state and locally.
In January, SFHC received a significant philanthropic pledge from Bennington State Bank, with a check of $250,000.
February, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) provided congressional support to SFHC with $3,261,000.
Other notable sources include, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (R-Kansas) by supporting a grant application, Salina Regional Healthcare Center's $1 million support and matching grants from Governor Kelly's office and the Ted & Almita Augustine Family.
SFHC CEO, Dr. Robert Kraft shared with Salina Post, the main factor for the new facility is due to growth.
"We have expanded and grown to the point where we are busting out of the seams at our current location and for us to continue to meet the needs of the community, we are going to need more space," said Kraft.
Over the past years, SFHC has treated more patients. This then brought more service lines, an optometry office, community outreach department and other quality departments.
Kraft added that 5 years ago they conducted a strategic planning process and decided to build the new facility.
"We hope this facility will improve our ability to care for folks. As a community healthcare center, we care for everybody regardless of their ability to pay," he said.
He expressed his appreciation to SFHC staff members as well.
"Really the staff at SFHC are the core of everything we do. They live our mission every single day and they make the work we do, real for our community. They are the friendly faces patients see on a daily basis and the caring experts who can help them navigate their health."
Kraft has worked for SFHC as a Family Doctor for about 20 plus years. He has been the CEO since 2019.
Sen. Moran was in attendance and discussed how SFHC genuinely cares for the well-being of the community.
"It's one thing to be a clinic, it's another thing to be a caring place for the well-being of humans, our colleagues here on earth," said Moran.
He added the new facility will be a significant component of educating healthcare professionals, that way Kansans are well cared for.
"This clinic has lots of purposes certainly providing care for those in circumstances where it's difficult to for them to afford is one of them, but the opportunity to train and educate more healthcare professionals across Kansas to meet the needs of citizens who live further from Salina and will be seen here in this clinic... That's hugely important to our state."
Salina Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, Renee Duxler expressed how the new facility will represent increased access to care for individuals and families across Salina and the surrounding region.
"This means shorter wait times, more comprehensive services and the ability to meet people where they are with compassion and dignity," Duxler said. "At a time when access to healthcare remains one of the most pressing challenges facing communities across our state and nation, this investment could not be more timely."
Duxler shared a personal note of how she began her career as a social worker in a clinic serving low-income individuals and families, which was also a training ground for students and residents. She added how SFHC resonates deeply with her, because about how the clinic meets people with dignity, care and the respect they deserve.
SFHC will stop all services at its current location, and operate in the new facility once its established.
Saline County and SFHC have made an agreement, where the county's health department will operate in their current, then former facility.
The anticipated ribbon-cutting ceremony and the start of patient care delivery remain on track for Fall 2027, marking an exciting new chapter for SFHC and the community it serves.
The new facility will be located at the former Kansas ONEGas and Evergy site, 1001 Edison Place off Ohio Street in Salina, KS.
