After months of talking, planning and renovating, officials with the Cass County Health System said Tuesday the Southwest Iowa Mental Health Center (SWIMHC), is finally moving to its new location at 1500 E. 10th Street. John Bigelow, SWIMHC Executive Director, says the Center is moving “just across the driveway” from 1408 E. 10th Street. The center has been at its current location since 1969 but has recently outgrown the space, due to an expansion in services and staff.

Dr. Bigelow and Cass County Health System CEO Todd Hudspeth began actively looking for additional space in January 2014. At about the same time, Unity Point at Home, which is currently leasing space from the hospital at 1500 E. 10th St., approached CCHS looking for a way to reduce its lease costs by leasing a smaller space. It was then that the idea of SWIMHC and Unity Point at Home swapping buildings was first identified as an option. Over the past nine months the idea has gradually become reality. Davita Dialysis, currently sharing space with Unity Point at Home at 1500 E. 10th Street, will remain at its current location.

SWIMHC is moving its main office to the new location on October 3, 2014. A satellite office was moved to the new location last week and is operational this week.  Dr. Bieglow says they “Will be able to see patients beginning at 8-AM on October 6th at the new location.”

For a couple of months, SWIMHC and Unity Point at Home will be sharing the building. When renovations at 1408 E. 10th St. are completed, Unity Point at Home will relocate. After final renovations at the new SWIMHC location are completed, Zion Recovery will relocate to 1500 E. 10th St. to share the space with SWIMHC.

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*Note: 1500 E. 10th Street is the tan brick building on the right as you come up Hospital Drive from Highway 6. Prior to housing home care and Davita Dialysis, this building was occupied by Atlantic Medical Center. 1408 E. 10th Street is the red brick building just to the south, which has been occupied by Southwest Iowa Mental Health Center since it was built.

(CCHS Press Release)