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Solvera Health open and accepting new patients in Galesburg

The Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce and Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Solvera Health clinic in Galesburg.
Jane Carlson
/
Tri States Public Radio
The Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce and Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Solvera Health clinic in Galesburg.

Solvera Health operates clinics in Carbondale, Peoria – and now Galesburg.

The Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce and Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday at the newly remodeled facility at 256 S. Soangetaha Road.

The new clinic is now serving area residents and helping to fill a gap following the closure of Cottage Hospital and its clinics earlier this year.

Solvera has been seeing patients in Galesburg since early July, as soon as they company found a location in town, and right as the remaining clinic operations at Cottage were coming to an end.

CEO Phil Caplis said the goal from the beginning to was to avoid disruption of care for former Cottage patients.

“We were able to, over a weekend, put everything in and start seeing the patients. Because that was first and foremost,” Caplis said.

The 1970s building has now been remodeled and updated.

In addition to Solvera Health, the building has offices for Unity Point cardiology, Advanced Rehab, and Lutheran Social Services.

Solvera also has employed the last dozen or so employees that were left at Cottage, including Dr. Julio Santiago.

Santiago was with Cottage until the end and has been with Solvera in Galesburg since the start, practicing family medicine.

“We have a great team here of brave men and women that are going to increase access to care, quality of care, and availability of care,” Santiago said.

Gynecologist Samuel Fox and former Cottage urologist doctor Thomas Patterson are also on board at the new clinic.

Caplis said Solvera in Galesburg will to continue to grow, with a nurse practitioner set to begin soon.

“There’s such an energy around Galesburg and their healthcare. It’s quite amazing. And, you know, that’s why I was excited to come here,” Caplis said.

Solvera Health is taking new patients in Galesburg and accepts most insurance.

The clinic also offers on-site diagnostics including bloodwork, urinalysis, EKGs, and flu and COVID-19 testing.

More information is online at SolveraHealth.com/Galesburg.

Tri States Public Radio produced this story.  TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.

Jane Carlson is TSPR's regional reporter.