One phase of the reconstruction/remodel of the former Vets Club building in Harlem is nearing completion. Fetter Construction has transformed the once bowling alley and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Club at 530 Central Avenue West into a home for Milk River Pharmacy and One Health Sweet-Harlem. To celebrate the grand "reopening" of the clinic side of the project, there will be an open house in Harlem with tours on April 6 from 1:00-5:00 p.m.

According to Allison Gray, Site Director for One Health-Sweet, the clinic will officially resume operations on April 12 when health professionals will begin seeing patients. "We are filled with excitement in anticipation to be moving forward with our Harlem re-opening coming soon and for us to be serving patients in that community again!"

The Harlem clinic will be open for operation on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The same behavioral health and primary care services that are offered in Chinook will be available in Harlem. There are plans to eventually offer dental services from the Harlem location, as well.

All of the current One Health Sweet providers will rotate through Harlem: In Primary Care, those providers are Dr. Joseph Nemes, MD; Samantha Thompson, NP; Lindsay Rucinsky, NP; and Stephanie Christman, NP. The two Behavioral Health providers are Christina Hoppe, Psy.D; and Michelle Tomaskie, LCPC.

When asked what she considered to be some of the biggest advantages of this facility's opening, Gray replied that the location would provide "more space, eventually dental, and easier access for patients living in Harlem, Fort Belknap, Turner, Malta, and surrounding areas."

Accessibility is one component of the mission of the One Health consortium as they focus on "[improving] the well-being of everyone by providing accessible, quality health care for the whole community."

Because the contractor's focus has been on getting the clinic side of the building operational, the pharmacy portion will not be ready until a later date. Milk River Pharmacy owner, Hilary Richman has no projections for her move at this time.