Axis Health System is expanding its Cortez campus at 691 E. Empire St.
The 5,000-square-foot expansion will add a pharmacy with a drive-thru, new dental suites, office and clinical space.
Construction on the project began this week and is expected to cost over $4 million, said Axis Public Relations Director Haley Leonard Saunders.
Axis received $587,527 from the American Rescue Plan to support the project, she said.
FCI Constructors Inc., based in Durango. will oversee architectural design and construction. Completion is estimated in 12 to 18 months.
The Cortez Integrated Healthcare system at Axis offers a variety of services, including medical, dental, mental health and substance abuse services. Additionally, it will offer women’s wellness services, the Women’s Wellness Connection Program and family planning services.
Saunders said the expanded campus and increased patient volume will allow for at least five more health care professionals to be hired, including a pharmacist and dental professionals. The Axis Cortez clinic currently has 35 employees.
“We’re thrilled to be able to build the next iteration of whole-person care at Cortez Integrated Healthcare at a time when access to healthcare is so important,” said Pam Sharratt, Ph.D. and chief operations officer at Axis, in a news release. “We’ve worked for a long time to find the best way to truly integrate care, and this construction project makes that possible by bringing pharmacy and dental to the campus on Empire Street in Cortez.”
Axis dental services are on Maple Street. The dental services will be moved to the main campus and expanded.
“This project puts our services under one roof. That, and our new pharmacy, provides more convenient access for patients,” Saunders said.
She said Axis is hiring, including for a clinician that will serve new Montezuma County Community Intervention Program funded by local towns and the county. The county is using $292,000 from the America Rescue Plan to fund a portion of the intervention program.
The Community Intervention Program will dispatch social workers and EMTs to assist people suffering from noncriminal emergency situations, such as a mental health crisis, substance abuse, suicide threats, public intoxication, homelessness, drug overdoses, and family disputes.
The crisis calls take away time needed by law enforcement and fire departments to respond to crimes and fires.
For more information on job openings visit the Axis Health System website.
