SISKIYOU COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER
November 2021
Siskiyou Community Health Center, with locations in Grants Pass (1701 NW Hawthorne Avenue) and Cave Junction (25647 Redwood Highway), is celebrating 48 years serving the Rogue Valley.
The center began as a small clinic in Takelma in 1973 and has become an integral provider of healthcare in Josephine County. They are committed to ensuring that more community members have access to high-quality, comprehensive health care. In 1997 SCHC merged with Our Valley Clinic and Gateway Dental Clinic in Grants Pass, building up these services to federal standards.
The stated goal of the center is “to provide a medical home that focuses on high quality primary and preventative care for the whole family and to ensure that all patients, including those who are medically underserved, have continuous access to high quality community-based health care services, including a primary care home.”
Over time, the demand for their services increased, and in January 2012, SCHC moved to the first LEED-certified green building in Grants Pass at 1701 NW Hawthorne Avenue. SCHC offers primary medical care for the entire family, a pharmacy, behavioral health services, laboratory services, outreach services, and a walk-in clinic. In the spring of 2016, SCHC moved their Grants Pass dental clinic on-site with their primary care facility and added radiology services.
Cost, transportation, and concerns surrounding confidentiality are barriers that often keep children from getting the health services they need. To reduce these barriers, SCHC operates school-based health centers at three schools in the Illinois Valley. They also have centers at Grants Pass High School and North Valley High School. These on-site clinics provide a full range of physical, mental, and preventative health services to all students, regardless of their ability to pay.
The center continues to follow its mission to build healthy communities by providing an affordable solution for quality health care. All services are offered in the same location, and they provide a sliding fee scale based on household size and income for patients who quality.
SCHC played a vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure safety for providers and patients, they offered virtual visits and implemented many safety protocols to protect their patients and employees. In addition, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, they became the first COVID-19 testing location in Josephine County and later offered a drive-thru COVID-19 vaccine clinic. They now provide testing and vaccines to anyone in the community.
In breaking news, the center recently received a $687,000 grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to expand their services at the main facility in Grants Pass. SCHC will use the money to expand its primary care and behavioral health services.
For more info, the Grants Pass number is 541-471-3455, and in Cave Junction 541-592-4111. You can also see them at siskiyouhealthcenter.com and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.