Windom, MN – In 2020, Windom Area Health (WAH) was one of six critical access hospitals in Minnesota chosen for the Minnesota Path to Value Project. The project was funded by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Rural Health and Primary Care. The intention behind the grant was to provide technical assistance to hospitals on projects meant to improve population health in rural areas.
As part of the Path to Value Project, WAH decided to focus on the mental health needs of our community. Health disparities in rural areas affect the health outcomes and well-being of those who live in our area. The availability of mental health care is limited, particularly in rural areas, so WAH chose to focus on addressing the mental health gap in our local communities by opening a Mental Health Walk-In Clinic. The goal was to deliver needed quality care and services to residents, right where they live. The project started with a few interested healthcare employees and grew to include many community members from local agencies related to mental health services. The doors to the Walk-In Clinic opened on May 1, 2023 and, so far, over 100 individuals have accessed the services offered by the clinic. Without the technical assistance provided by grant staff, the Walk-In Clinic may have never come to fruition; we appreciate each and every one of our partners who made this service a reality.
The video below summarizes the journey of the opening of Windom Area Health’s Mental Health Walk-In Clinic:
Written by Jessica Schmit, Mental Health Manager