New Health Clinic To Open In Desert Hot Springs

Thanks to Desert Health Care District grant money, a nine exam room health center that includes an x-ray room is ready to serve patients that in some cases end up in hospital emergency rooms for treatment due to their lack of private insurance coverage.

The health center which is run by the non-profit Borrego Community Health Foundation will initially have a staff of 3 doctors. Before the health center there was little choice for Desert Hot Springs residents since only 2 doctors and a physicians assistant practice medicine in the city.

It’s located at 12520 Palm Drive in Desert Hot Springs, a former liquor store.

Although not a free clinic, the health center can link uninsured patients with public programs that will pick up the costs of their treatment.

“What we have as a federally qualified health center is a sliding fee program which is based on the ability to pay and income,” said Mark Connelly, Vice President of Operations for Borrego Community Health Foundation. “We work with them on their income standards following federal guidelines and see what they’re able to afford for their visit.”

The clinic is scheduled to open to patients Wednesday at 8 am. You can reach them at (760)676-5240.

The Borrego Community Health foundation runs 7 other health centers in Southern California including one in Cathedral City.