(OSCEOLA, IA – August 2, 2022)
The Infinity Health Access Center is an important part of the community. Opening in Osceola in 2019, the center has provided needed access to those experiencing a mental health crisis. The former Community Health Centers of Southern Iowa has changed names and expanded their services.
Community Health Centers of Southern Iowa is now called Infinity Health. It is an IowaHealth+ partner. The access center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It is a safe space for those experiencing a mental health crisis or substance use disorder to come for evaluation and stabilization. The services offered by the access center include 23-hour observation. This service is designed to provide a short-term crisis intervention. Subacute care is also available. Subacute care allows for the stabilization, support, diagnostic evaluation and treatment to those in a mental health crisis. Stabilization services are offered for voluntary individuals needing a safe environment to resolve a crisis in less than 5 days. Peer support is offered through a warm line manned by individuals with lived experience. In addition a mobile crisis response offers on-site intervention by qualified crisis response staff. Court evaluations to assist in the appropriateness of court ordered treatment are also available at the center. In addition to mental health, the facility also provides a sobering unit so a person under the influence of drugs or alcohol can have a safe environment to initiate recovery. Infinity health also offers primary health care in Decatur County. All of the services are provided on a sliding scale for uninsured and underinsured patients who qualify.
In addition to mental health concerns, Infinity Health determined that assistance was needed for those needing dental care. According to County Health Ratings, the population to dentist ratio in Clarke County is 2360:1 which is significantly higher than the Iowa ratio of 1500:1. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has designated Clarke County as a Dental Health Professional Shortage Area. Seeing this need, Infinity Health has made an investment of $280,024 to bring a new dental clinic to the Clarke County area. The funding for this program was received from a few different sources. A grant from Delta Dental was awarded to the project in the amount of $49,999. An additional $50,000 was awarded through the Clarke County Development Corporation’s (CCDC) Pillars Grant program. Bill Trickey, Executive Director of CCDC states,
” We at CCDC recognize the need for additional dental health professionals in our area. We are pleased to take part in bringing Infinity Health dental services to those in need in our community”
Pillars grant was offered to assist in the purchase of equipment needed to run the dental office. This was the third grant from CCDC to the Access Center. The initial 2 grants totaling $70,492 were for building and equipping the Osceola access center. This new grant will help specifically with equipment needed to run the dental clinic.
“We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to partner with CCDC again for our oral health expansion project in Clarke County,” said Infinity Health CEO, Samantha Cannon. “There is a tremendous need for increased access to dental care in Osceola and the surrounding areas, particularly for those insured by Medicaid, and our organization is committed to helping meet that need.”
According to Delta Dental’s grin! Magazine (2021) , “Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey showed that almost two-thirds of people with depression reported having a toothache in the last year. It also indicated that half of all people with depression rated their teeth condition as fair or poor. A scientific review of related studies found a strong link between periodontal (gum) disease and mood conditions like stress, distress, anxiety, depression and loneliness.”
Infinity Health’s mission is to help the communities in which they serve meet their healthcare needs. The shortage of dental professionals in the area dictated the move to add dental care. The Osceola location is one of the 9 centers in Iowa under the Infinity Health network.
For more information about the Access Center services, please contact the administration office at
(641) 446-2383. If you are part of a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization servicing Clarke County Iowa and are wanting more information about the Pillars Grant Program, please contact Elizabeth Simpson (641) 342-2944.
If you or someone you know is in a mental health crisis please reach out for help at 1-800-708-5129.
Media Contact:
Elizabeth Simpson
Clarke County Development Corp
Email: [email protected]