Progress continues on Haxtun Health's new main street clinic

Things are moving along with Haxtun Health's main street clinic project. In a late June meeting of the Haxtun Health Board of Directors, Project Manager Mike Ensminger gave an update on construction progress.

According to the update information, window frames have been installed and Skarco is in the process of installing glass now. Several of the windows are complete at this point. Now that all the window frames are in and glass is being installed, crews will finish brick work with window sills. Now that the window frames are in, the scaffolding has come down, exposing the front of the new main street building along the 100 block of South Colorado Avenue.

Skarco, Ensminger said, is working on a punch list for interior items. Plans are to hang the overhead exam light in the patient procedure room as well as the TRX ceiling mounds in the physical therapy rooms. In addition, Platte Valley Fire Suppression was here recently to complete their suppression system and nozzles.

The project has received the State Department of Fire and Safety go ahead to do a fire flush, which will get approval of the underground's supply to the suppression system and approve the tie in of the main floor suppression system to the water supply.

Additionally, the Town of Haxtun set the transformer and Expert Electric will be on site this month to work on terminations and power to the building.

During staff reports in the June 24 meeting, Chief Nursing Officer Leah White said Haxtun Health has two open nursing positions including one registered nurse night shift and one RN case manager position. She added that the ECU Nurse Manager position has been filled by Rajsha Sanchez, who will be joining Haxtun Health in July. Sanchez fills the role left vacant when Nicole Dennis stepped down to work the floor earlier this year.

In the Chief of Staff report, Dr. Ben Stephenson, MD, said Haxtun Health now offers modified barium swallow studies, thanks in part to the addition of Linda Faulk to the team. Patients are being scheduled for this service beginning in July.

Falk, a speech therapist, joined Haxtun Health this year. The addition of modified barium swallow studies makes Haxtun Health one of the only facilities in northeast Colorado to offer the service.

A modified barium swallow is an X-ray procedure that uses barium to examine the swallowing mechanism and head and neck anatomy. During the test, a patient swallows various foods and liquids mixed with barium while x-ray pictures are taken. This allows doctors to see if food or liquid enters the windpipe, also known as aspiration, during swallowing.

Julia Biesemeier, Chief Community Relations Officer, said that the Rehabilitation Department at Haxtun Heath is off to a strong start this summer. She said Health and Wellness Director Wendy Evans has launched several new community programs including a Balance Class, Chair Exercise Class and Circuit Training at the Park.

Information on the newly added modified barium swallow studies or any of the health and wellness classes, visit Haxtun Health on Facebook.