Grand opening

A ribbon cutting helped mark the occasion of the opening of Bowen Health Clinic. (Contributed Photo)

A new health clin­ic has opened at Bowen Center in LaGrange.

The new Bowen Health Clinic opened March 21 and continues Bowen Center’s move towards a one-stop-shop approach to healthcare that can make an imme­diate positive difference in the lives of LaGrange County residents. Co-lo­cated with the outpatient office at 836 N. Detroit St., the new clinic will continue Bowen Center’s move towards integrat­ing physical health care with mental health care and addiction recovery services for patients, no matter their ability to pay.

“Bowen Center has worked hard to make changes to improve the lives of our patients,” said Robinn Mitchell, Director of Bowen Cen­ter – LaGrange. “Inte­grative care is and will be one of the most sig­nificant changes Bowen Center has made for our patients.”

Understanding that the integrative healthcare model would improve and extend lives, Bow­en Center began adding primary care services at its existing locations in 2020. By April 11, all Bowen Center locations will offer primary health care in addition to their mental health services.

Robinn Mitchell makes opening remarks during the cele­bration of the new Bowen Health Clinic. (Standard-News Photo by Michelle Patrick)

“Indiana men are twice as likely than women to die of an over­dose and they’re four times more likely to die from suicide,” said Dr. Rob Ryan, Bowen Cen­ter president and CEO. ter president and CEO. “One reason is they’re half as likely to receive mental health treatment. So, if the question is we have the services that are available, they’re ef­fective, you know that they’re struggling to find it, what can we do about that? That’s why we brought greater care here to you in LaGrange County.”

“Realistically, we know that there are so many people in our com­munity who try and put their head down and plow through and it’s probably difficult in many areas, rural areas especially. People think ‘I can get through this.’ ‘It’s just a problem’, said Sue Glick, Indiana State Senator, District 13. “And that goes with not only the mental health issues, but physical issues, be­cause quite often physi­cal problems manifest. They can’t do the things they’ve done in the past. It grinds on them, both physically and mentally.”

Judge Lisa Bow­en Slaven, LaGrange County Superior Court, shared her appreciation for Bowen Center’s sup­port in working with people with court-or­dered treatment.

“I have had the oppor­tunity to speak to other judges in the state who live in counties where they don’t have any treatment providers in their county,” said Judge Lisa Bowen-Slaven, La­Grange County Superi­or Court. “They have to source everything out. So, we are very fortu­nate. Bowen Center’s commitment to La­Grange County is greatly appreciated.”

The addition of Bow­en Health Clinic will of­fer patients easy access to primary health care in addition to mental health care, behavioral health care, addiction recovery treatment, and life skills coaching services.

“Our goal in prima­ry care is to encourage healthy living, and that is done through preven­tative care where we do screenings, vaccines, and maintaining rela­tionships that many peo­ple are referring to here,” said Stacy Smith, Bowen Health Clinic, Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. “It’s so important. I see Bowen Health Clinic, truly paving the way to provide a presence in communities often with limited resources and underserved families.”

“Integrative care is not just simply co-lo­cating services next to each other or in the same building. It’s really about ensuring we’re provid­ing access to patients while they’re here and taking care of the whole person,” said Bowen Center COO Shannon Hannon. “The patients we serve have a more difficult time navigating that healthcare system. We know how difficult it was for them to walk through our door. We have a duty to serve them more, further, and ex­panded, not only because we have the expertise to do so, but because we can understand what it took for them to get here in the first place.”

Bowen Health Clinic welcomes Medicaid, and no one is turned away for an inability to pay. To make an appointment, call (800) 342-5653.