Hot Springs Clinic still needs funding

Danielle Switalski

The Hot Springs Medical Clinic will continue to remain understaffed and under-equipped until the old and debilitated building receives funding to be expanded and refurbished.

So far attempts to receive funding from federal stimulus money or ear markers have been unsuccessful, said Board member for Eastern Sanders County Hospital District, Ray Flesch. Things are underway to start the building process, however, without money the project meets a roadblock and will not move forward.

“We are continuing in our search for grants and other funding and until that money is secured the Hot Springs clinic will continue to operate as usual,” said Flesch. “Grants are our only hope.”

Flesch said the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes and the Clark Fork Valley Hospital continue to support the program and the attempts to expand the existing building. The Salish and Kootenai tribes have agreed to lease the extra land needed for the expansions of one of the main parts of the Hot Springs Clinic.

Although the tribes and the CFVH are both trying to help the Hot Springs Clinic, Flesch said they not only need funding for the building, but for new equipment as well.

“There is no room to bring on more staff until we expand and buy more equipment. And it’s a really long process,” said Flesch.

Although the Clinic still needs to find funds in order to move ahead with the building project, Flesch said they finally have some areas wrapped up. He said they should have the land locked in and have hired an architect who can begin drawing up plans for the expansion. This is especially important because it will help the Clinic find out the actual amount of funds needed in order to start moving ahead.

“But until we get funding the project will not go anywhere,” added Flesch.

Ray Marshall, Director of Sanders County Community Development said they are currently working on securing a planning grant for the project. Flesch’s organization has agreed to put $20,000 down towards the project, provided that Marshall can find a matching grant. “It will be a 50/50 match” up to $20,000.

“This is the first time someone said they would be willing to put money towards the project, so now we are trying to get it shovel ready so if we find another source of money and we can go for that,” said Marshall.

Marshall said he has spoken with a representative from the Department of Commerce where he received encouragement to continue searching for sources of money to begin this building expansion.

“We’re looking at any angle we can because this is something that really needs to be done,” said Marshall. “So we are step by step, but we are getting to where we need to be.”