SPICER -- The Paynesville Area Health Care System is considering opening a clinic in Spicer.
The Spicer Economic Development Authority has offered the Paynesville Area Health Care System a loan of up to $200,000 to help open a clinic in the community, said Steven Moburg, PAHCS chief executive officer. The cost to establish a clinic in Spicer hasn't been determined, he said.
"We're still in a fact-finding mode," he said. "We're still in discussions with them."
Spicer and the Paynesville Area Health Care System have discussed bringing a clinic to the city for several years, Moburg said. Last week, the Paynesville Area Hospital District Board of Directors authorized the administration to negotiate a lease agreement and to continue discussions with Spicer, he said.
"What this does is it just opens a door for us to talk through it and see what the benefits are for both communities," Moburg said.
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The loan would come from the Spicer EDA revolving loan fund, said Jean Spaulding, EDA director. They arrived at the $200,000 amount after discussing the clinic's needs and what the EDA had to offer, she said. They've also discussed a 1 percent interest rate over five years, she said.
"It's not formal yet," she said.
A location for a clinic hasn't been decided, but the EDA has told the Paynesville Area Health Care System about some options, including the Bell Tower Plaza, Green Lake Mall and Progress Way, Spaulding said.
Moburg said Spicer, which doesn't have a clinic, is underserved. The pharmacy in town also makes Spicer an appealing location for a clinic, he said.
"We do see a fair number of patients coming from that community already," Moburg said.
The clinic would likely start with one physician and "work up from there," Moburg said.
The closest clinic to Spicer is the Affiliated Community Medical Centers clinic 5 miles north in New London. Affiliated is planning to build a larger clinic next year east of state Highway 23 to replace its downtown New London location. A pharmacy is also planned for the development.
Moburg said the Paynesville Area Health Care System is aware of Affiliated's plans and said the PAHCS works cooperatively with Affiliated, he said.
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Spicer residents listed a clinic as a need in the community on a survey used during the city's comprehensive planning process, Spaulding said. A lot of people would support having a clinic in town, she said.
"It has been something that has been a goal of the EDA for many years," she said.
Spaulding said she and the Paynesville Area Health Care System plan to put out an announcement if an agreement is reached.
"We're hoping that will be soon," she said.
Paynesville Area Health Care System has a hospital in Paynesville and clinics in Paynesville, Eden Valley, Belgrade, Cold Spring, Richmond and Watkins. It also has four senior housing facilities.
