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Alliance Medical to open satellite center in Windsor

WINDSOR, HEALDSBURG – After years in quiet discussion, Alliance Medical Center of Healdsburg will open a new clinic in Windsor this summer, bringing services closer to the estimated 22 percent of patients located in the neighboring city.

Officials from the town of Windsor and Alliance have discussed the possibility of the new site for more than two years, but financial constraints have hampered those plans until recently.

Expected losses in state funding have forced many clinics to cut excess costs, but Alliance recently received $20,000 from the Foster Foundation and an offer to rent a pilot site at no cost. The agreement was signed early this month and plans moved forward immediately, scheduling a tentative ribbon-cutting for June 2.

The 900-square-foot site at 8465 Old Redwood Highway will be sublet to the organization from the St. Joseph Health System at no charge until its lease expires Dec. 31, 2009.

“We heard Alliance was looking to do an outreach in the Windsor area. We felt since we had a space we were not using, it would be a great community benefit to the population of Windsor,” said Jo Sandersfeld, vice president of Mission Integration for the St. Joseph Health System – Sonoma County, which operates Petaluma Valley Hospital and Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

Clinic spokesman Ray Holley said that after 2009, Alliance could sign a contract with the landlord to stay in the same place, but it is more likely it will be moved to a larger location.

“We believe Windsor is ready, and this allows us to test that theory. If all goes well, we could be looking at a much larger facility in 2010,” said Alliance Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Jack Neureuter.

Alliance plans to use the site primarily for pregnancy and children’s services. The Windsor clinic will operate for only about 20 hours a week in the first year. One physician and two medical assistants will be transferred from the Healdsburg location, but depending on its success, more doctors could be hired in the future.

Scheduling will be processed through the Healdsburg clinic in the beginning months, which can be reached by calling 707-433-5494.

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