New health clinic opens Nov. 2 in C. Falls

The new North Valley Hospital Professional Center will open Nov. 2 on Talbott Road. An open house is planned for the $2 million Columbia Falls clinic Nov. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. as a Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce business after-hours event.

Drs. Mary Ann Carlson, Cameron Gardner and Katiera Rivera will practice there as will nurse practitioners Brittany Coburn and Dan Masar.

The 8,700-square-foot center offers family medicine and obstetrics, geriatric and pediatric care. The staff is moving from its old facility on U.S. 2 and North Valley Hospital plans to sell the old building, according to hospital spokeswoman Catherine Todd.

The Professional Center was started in 1978. Drs. Joan Miller and Wade Covill initially operated the clinic; Carlson joined in 1979. It was acquired by the hospital a few years ago. Todd said the center will also have visits by an orthopedic surgeon on a weekly basis and in the future would like to add a psychiatrist and a geriatrician.

The hospital also is in talks with School District 6 to set up a school-based health clinic for treatment of students who might become ill and for other health services.

The clinic offers same-day appointments and will be open from 8 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday with extended hours to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. The hospital purchased the land from School District 6 for $230,000 last fall.