The impending closure of CareArc’s Eureka Health Center is the result of several factors including a declining population.
CareArc Executive Director Renee Hively explained this causality during the health center’s quarterly report presented to Lyon County Commissioners as part of their regular action meeting Thursday morning.
Hively says the health center is in the process of finding a buyer for the clinic with hopes that it will continue to operate in its current capacity.
As for the staff of the Eureka clinic, Hively says the ideal scenario will be for them to continue working for the clinic if it remains in operation once it’s sold.
That being said, she tells KVOE News there are currently no positions open at the Emporia facility and the staff will be free to explore other employment opportunities. The final day of operation for the clinic under the CareArc banner will be Thursday, February 29.
CareArc plans to help patients using the Eureka facility transition to the Emporia location so their care can continue uninterrupted. The Eureka clinic began operations in 2014 through grant funding and has been offering medical, dental and behavioral health services for residents in Greenwood and Woodson counties since then.
Also during Thursday’s report, Community Health Manager Melissa Smith reported that influenza and COVID-19 numbers are down locally after seeing a spike late last year.
Smith adds the county has had a COVID test positivity rate of around 30 percent since late last year.
She says that is a positive number, however, she’s not sure it is 100 percent accurate.
In other business Thursday, commissioners approved signing the 2024 Noxious Weed Department annual report and management plan and replacement of HVAC equipment for the same department totaling more than $6,800. Approval was also granted for Lyon County Appraiser Ryan Janzen to mail change of valuation notices for a total of $11,700 and to attend the IAAO GIS Valuation Technologies Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina in April for an amount not to exceed $1,200.
Commissioners also held three executive sessions with no action taken. The Lyon County Commission will reconvene for its weekly action meeting next Thursday at 9 am inside of the Lyon County Courthouse Commission Chambers.
