Troy Clinic Renovation Underway; Therapy Eyes Downtown Moscow Expansion
MOSCOW ― Investments are underway on two Gritman Medical Center projects that will improve patient access across Latah County.
Construction has begun on a renovation of Gritman’s Troy Family Medicine clinic, which has been temporarily closed since March because of continued water damage to the century-old building. Gritman has also taken the first step to expand its Gritman Therapy Solutions program by purchasing a larger space in downtown Moscow that will allow the hospital system to meet a growing demand for services.
A local contractor began work in August to renovate and refurbish the Troy Family Medicine building at 412 S. Main St. with an eye toward resuming patient care at the clinic in spring 2024. Certified Physician Assistant Jennifer Grinage and her team will continue to see patients at Gritman’s Kendrick Family Medicine clinic until completion of that project. Troy patients will continue to receive updates through the mail as the project progresses.
In Moscow, the former Daily News/EMSI space at 409 S. Jackson St. – now known as the Thrivent building – is recently renovated and contains a mix of private offices and large rooms perfect for therapy services. A deal for Gritman to purchase the property, including the building and about 40 parking spaces for patients, closed Sept. 29.
“We have been looking for ways to upgrade and expand these services to better care for patients,” Gritman President and CEO Kara Besst said. “These investments allow Gritman to better serve our community in Troy and meet a growing demand for physical therapy services throughout the region.”
Gritman’s Latah County-based Board of Directors provided the vision for both projects through its strategic planning process, as well as a goal to increase available services as the overall community continues to grow. Gritman is projecting 173,000 outpatient visits in 2023 and 181,000 in 2024 across the Gritman Health System, up from about 135,000 visits in 2019.
The Troy Family Medicine renovation includes upgrades throughout the building, including a new roof and updates to its electrical and HVAC systems.
“The Troy Family Medicine clinic is a critical piece of Gritman’s mission to provide access to exceptional care in our communities throughout Latah County,” Gritman Chief Clinics Officer Gretta Jarolimek said. “Our Troy clinic has served residents of Troy and the surrounding area for decades, and we’re eager to resume that service again soon.”
The 16,600-square-foot Jackson Street building in downtown Moscow provides Gritman Therapy Solutions team members with a larger footprint, allowing various therapy services to be co-mingled while remaining close to the existing hospital campus.
Gritman is honoring all existing leases as part of its Jackson Street purchase agreement. Gritman Therapy Solutions is slated to move into the Jackson Street space in 2024. Once vacated, the existing Gritman Therapy Solutions space at 810 S. Main St., in Moscow, will be converted to clinic space. The exact use of that space is still being determined.
“Gritman Therapy Solutions has outgrown its existing space and this decision by our leadership allows expansion of therapy offerings to meet growing demand,” Gritman Therapy Solutions Director Jenni Dalton said. “The larger footprint will allow therapy services to be in one space and allow Gritman to hire more therapists and reduce wait times for patients.”
These expansion projects follow the successful buildout of the C.L. Gritman Medical Office Building this fall, which houses new and expanded homes for interventional pain, infusion, neurology and oncology services on the Palouse. All these investments are funded entirely through Gritman’s operating revenue and private bonding. As a private, nonprofit hospital, Gritman does not rely on local tax dollars.
Information on the projects will be updated periodically at gritman.org/future.