Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Before Bowen Health Warsaw had its ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday for its new health clinic facing U.S. 30, dentist Dr. Colin Spencer had already seen two patients.
Dentistry is just one of the many services the new 20,000-square-foot facility at 901 Anchorage Point Drive offers regardless of a person’s ability to pay.
In his opening remarks for the ceremony of the $10 million investment, Bowen Health President and CEO Dr. Rob Ryan said, “Today’s ribbon-cutting is the ending of one chapter and the starting of another. I’d argue that the previous chapter was a love story, a story of a community which opened Bowen’s doors in 1961, with a desire to make sure that people had a place to go if they had a serious mental illness or addiction that wasn’t a state hospital.”
Over the last 60 years, he said they’ve witnessed the Bowen and Kosciusko County partnership create a place “where relationships were healed, where addictions were brought under control and anxiety and depression were brought peace.”
One “simple but profound” success the partnership has had is the success of not having people end up in the state hospital, he stated.
“In fact, you may not know, but one day at the state hospital costs the state $2,000 per day. An agency our size averages around 25 people in the state hospital all the time,” Ryan said. “So my math tells me that in the last 25 years, our partnership with Kosciusko County of keeping all people out of the state hospital has saved the state and us as taxpayers $476 million. And while we’re proud of those savings, I’m more proud of having the people, who we work with, stay in our communities.”
The new building represents the next chapter in Bowen’s iteration, he said.
“We built this building to actually be embodying integrative care. Integrative care means having multiple disciplines come together for the betterment of our patients. So, we want to do more than just work on mental health and addiction. We want to have people return to their marriages revitalized. We want to have them return to their work with new strength. And we want to make sure that people with addictions don’t just have the addictions under power, but help them in empowering other individuals,” Ryan said.
While Bowen Health is proud of the money they saved the state with keeping people out of the state hospital, he said they didn’t do it for that reason. “We did it because we want those people in our community,” he said.
Continuing, he said there’s another savings they will have with opening an integrative care place.
“Did you know that if you could delay the onset of diabetes for someone from the age of 20 to the age of 40, it saves $100,000 worth of care. Sounds great, right? But how about if you’re that person? The quality of your life that you get, you don’t have to spend time at doctors’ offices, pricking your finger or checking where your blood sugar is. So we’re proud that we’ll be saving the state even more. Once again, our partnership with Kosciusko County is about creating this quality of life, returning years to people’s lives,” Ryan said.
If a person doesn’t have a mental health issue or addiction, is the new health clinic for them?
Ryan responded, “I’d argue we’re more than mental health and addiction. We’re a place to go if you have nowhere else to go. If you don’t have insurance, you have Medicaid, you have trouble getting in someplace, we’re the place to go.”
Kelly Martinczak, Bowen Health clinical support lead, speaking on behalf of Bowen and the Warsaw outpatient therapist team, said, “We’re a very busy office and every day I see their dedication and their work. Late nights. Early mornings. I see the constant effort they bring, so I’m proud to be part of the team.”
She said the new building brings it all together with the support they feel as treatment providers and the total health of their patients.
Bowen Health Board member and Kosciusko County Sheriff Jim Smith said being raised in Kosciusko County, Bowen has always been a part of it.
“So to see this and be a part of it on the board, I couldn’t be more excited. In fact, being on the board I feel like I have front-row seats to all the great success and achievements that Bowen is doing for our community,” Smith said. “What started as a vision is now a reality, and you guys are all here to witness it. I understand they’ve already opened the doors and seen patients, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
As the sheriff, he said, “It’s consistent with what we’re trying to do as we’re navigating inmates as they’re re-entering into our community. This is just another resource. We couldn’t be more excited about that. I think we all agree that a healthier community promotes a safer community.”
County Commissioner Cary Groninger said the facility is in Warsaw, but as a commissioner he likes to focus on things that are going to impact the whole county.
“I think this facility is definitely going to do that for Kosciusko County,” he said.
In talking with the county veteran service officer the other day, Groninger said he was super excited about the dental services and many other things that are going to be provided to the veterans.
“So this facility will be a lifeline for those veterans here in our community,” he stated.
Warsaw Community Schools Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert said the school corporation wasn’t able to strive for its mission without strong community partnerships.
“Bowen Health has always been one of those partners and a leader in the field of mental health. While buildings do not define an organization, the capacity, comfort level for clients and services can be expanded through thoughtful planning and expansion. This is exactly the case of why I’m so excited for our community and the students of Warsaw Community Schools,” Hoffert said. “With this new facility, desperate needs in areas such as dental for underserved children will be provided.”
Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Rob Parker talked about how inviting and welcoming the new facility is.
“This is something that is a flagship building to reach out to our community so that individuals who may be struggling with mental or physical or dental issues know they’re welcome here. And this building really states that we are doing things differently and better in Kosciusko County,” he stated.
Mary Martin, regional director for Gov. Mike Braun’s office, read a letter from Braun.
“This expansion represents an important investment in health and well-being of Hoosiers and it reflects your continued dedication to serving our communities with passion and excellence,” the letter stated in part.
Bowen Health Board member and Wawasee Community Schools Elementary Administrator Cindy Brady said when she walked into the building Monday morning, she saw one of her students and their parents and for her that’s what it’s all about.
“The excitement to be able to give students the care they need; families, the care they need, especially when they’re young,” Brady said. “Hopefully, we can provide that guidance, that stability and be able to grow their future in a way that we couldn’t do before because we certainly couldn’t serve the number of patients that we do here.”
Sue Ann Mitchell, county commissioner, said the new facility is going to be a wonderful benefit to the county. She said having Smith serve on the Bowen Board of Directors has been a critical piece of making things work in the county, as well as Bowen’s dedication in trying to help the jail population move forward through counseling.
Spencer said he was excited to be a part of a team where access to medical care, especially dental care, was going to be made easier.
“We can see patients and we can take care of them, regardless of their ability to pay,” he stated.
After the ribbon-cutting, Spencer elaborated more on the dental services Bowen Health will provide.
“Right now we’re offering comprehensive dental care for our patients. So we’re going to offer fillings, extractions, cleanings, some basic root canals and crowns. Then in the future we’re going to be offering dentures and partial dentures,” he said.
They will try to do as much in-house as possible for the patients.
“If it’s outside my scope of practice, we’ll send them to an oral surgeon in town,” Spencer said.
Services are open to anyone, including those on Medicaid and not insured.
Along with Spencer, the dentist office includes two hygienists on staff that are doing cleanings.
“We plan to have dental in all the new build locations as well, so in Plymouth, Columbia City, Wabash and Huntington,” he stated.
Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
