Santa Cruz Community Health (SCCH), a nonprofit provider of affordable health services opened its new clinic in the San Lorenzo Valley.
The new clinic, in the historic Wee Kirk Church at the corner of Central and Main just down the street from the Ben Lomond post office, is taking appointments now. Schedule at 831-427-3500.
“SLV is a relatively remote region compared to much of Santa Cruz County and it has long been underserved,” said Leslie Conner, CEO. “Our goal is to increase access to high quality, affordable health care for this area, particularly for low-income people. We are proud and excited to bring health care services to more families and individuals in the San Lorenzo Valley.”
The SLV Health Center will initially operate 30 hours a week, serving patients who live in the SLV area and beyond.
SCCH will be staffing the clinic with three physicians including Chief Medical Officer Casey KirkHart, as well as Drs. Rose Lovell and Leelia Franck and a care team. Moving forward, SCCH’s full menu of services will be offered, including outreach, enrollment, health education, and services offered in partnership with local schools and social service organizations.
The clinic space previously housed Dr. Steven Leib’s family medicine practice. Dr. Leib retired in September. The Wee Kirk Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.
To quote Dr. Leib, “The Wee Kirk Church has a new mission to provide a sanctuary in support of the physical, emotional and social wellbeing of the wonderful folks who live in the San Lorenzo Valley and beyond. Now, under the watchful stewardship of Santa Cruz Community Health, we are confident that the Wee Kirk’s unique place and purpose will be preserved for generations to come.”
Conner said, “PAMF (Palo Alto Medical Foundation) has been a valued partner over the years and is providing both financial and technical support in expanding services to the San Lorenzo Valley. In fact, it was from within the PAMF leadership team that the concept of partnering SCCH with the historic church originated. Thank You!”
SCCH also operates the Women’s Health Center in downtown Santa Cruz and the East Cliff Family Health Center in Live Oak. The clinics offer primary care, pediatrics, prenatal care and education, mental health and substance use disorder treatment, chronic disease management, health insurance enrollment, food distribution and more. In addition, SCCH provides Covid testing, vaccines, and prevention education for its patients and community members.
About Santa Cruz Community Health Through the Santa Cruz Women’s Health Center, the East Cliff Family Health Center, and the new clinic in Ben Lomond, Santa Cruz Community Health (a Federally Qualified Health Center) provides comprehensive primary care services in English and Spanish to all ages, genders, ethnicities, abilities and sexual orientation, regardless of their ability to pay. Seeded by the Santa Cruz Women’s Health Center in 1974, SCCH has maintained a 48 year commitment to its mission: to improve the health of its patients and the community and advocate the feminist goals of social, political, and economic equality. SCCH’s health centers serve nearly 12,000 patients through a dedicated staff of medical providers, nurses, licensed clinical social workers, health educators, and administrative personnel.
Learn more at schealthcenters.org fFebook.com/schealthcenters Instagram @schealthcenters.
Comments