Western Sierra Medical Center had the official ribbon cutting on their new facility yesterday and will begin seeing patients today. The 19,000-square-foot building, located behind Safeway on Old Tunnel Road is about 50 percent larger than the previous location in the Whispering Pines business Park and will allow the nonprofit to expand its services and improve health care in Nevada, Sierra and Yuba counties. Western Sierra Director Scott McFarland says they will have full adult and childrens dental care and a full list of medical services.
click here to listen to Scott McFarland
Western Sierra now cares for about 20,000 patients per year, a dramatic increase from 2,000 of a decade ago. and the new facility will allow the center to better meet the burgeoning demand for services – and they serve all payers regardless of ability to pay or types of insurance. McFarland says another focus is on keeping people healthy with education.
click here to listen to Scott McFarland
McFarland says the new building is a major step forward, with 28 patient rooms – six more than the previous location – as well as dedicated areas for maternity services and specialists. The new center also includes behavioral health rooms, a dental suite – featuring an area for children dentistry – and even an on-site lab and community room. In addition, a new Nevada County bus stop is at the entry drive through for convenient access for patients.
Liz Fisher
There is more to this story. The Downieville Clinic Patient Advocacy Committee (DC-PAC) finds it is difficult being an advocate for our western Sierra County patients, residents and visitors when the corporate interests who left us in the lurch are doing good things for Nevada County. We are happy for you but do not agree that our medical care which took 40 years and should be the standard for all rural care has to be decimated for another health care center in Grass Valley. Nevada City, Grass Valley and outlying areas of Nevada County have many health care choices available. Western Sierra County has only one, the Downieville WSMC site.