The new health center of the Atchison County Health Department will officially open next week at the corner of 6th and Main streets in Tarkio. Formerly the Tarkio Avalanche building, the new facility is a major upgrade from their current one and will allow for more services to be provided at the clinic.
The time has finally arrived for the Atchison County Health Department to open the doors to its new health center location at 521 Main Street in Tarkio (the former Avalanche building). The construction crew did a fantastic job of renovating what was once a large open space and creating numerous offices and patient rooms, kitchens, conference center, and bathrooms/shower to allow the clinic to be able to grow and offer more services to the community.
The official first day at the new center is Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Hours of operation will be 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday (call 660-736-4121 or stop by to schedule an appointment). Plans for an open house/ribbon cutting are in the works and a date and time will be publicized as soon as it is set.
The 6,000 square foot building (the previous center was only 2,000 square feet) provides for a better patient experience with universal accessibility and more confidentiality. Each staff member will have their own office and the facility boasts an increase in exam/clinic rooms from 1 to 5 (including two larger/safer immunization rooms and a potential dental area). There is a dedicated WIC room, a huge conference room with smart capabilities and a kitchen for cooking classes, a break room and respite area for staff, multiple restrooms (one of which is equipped with a shower and another with privacy access for samples), and room for storage. There is also potential for mental health offices. Drive through testing and vaccinations will also be available using the facility’s east door. A generator will run the entire building, providing potential use for a cooling and warming center.
The former clinic building at 421 Main Street is currently for sale. For more information about that building or for more information about the services and resources provided at the center, call 660-736-4121 or visit the website at atcomopublichealth.org.
