UK St. Claire Announces Plans to Invest More than $11 Million in West Liberty Rural Clinic

“It is indeed a proud day for all of us at UK St. Claire,” said Donald H. Lloyd, II, SCH President/CEO.

On Monday, August 21, UK St. Claire (SCH) announced plans for a more than $11 million capital investment to expand access to high-quality healthcare for residents throughout the region.

SCH will soon begin construction on a nearly 8,000 sq. ft. rural health clinic on West Main Street in West Liberty (Morgan County, KY). With 14 exam/procedure rooms, patients will have access to primary care services and a rotation of specialty practices. Cardiology, general surgery, OB/GYN, as well as, orthopaedics and sports medicine have all expressed interest in offering clinic days at the new location. The clinic will also include a retail pharmacy offering patients a convenient, cost-effective choice for their prescription medications.

“This commitment is St. Claire’s single largest investment in our 60-year history outside of Rowan County,” said Lloyd.

Two of SCH’s current primary care providers, Tanner Brondhaver, DO, (Morehead – Downtown) and Wendy Lykins, APRN, (Sandy Hook) have already signed up to provide care at the new clinic.

“We’re extremely excited to get this project off the ground for Morgan County,” said Dr. Brondhaver. “This community is close to my heart and I’m very excited to serve the people of Morgan County and the surrounding communities for years to come.”

“As a lifelong Morgan County resident, I’m really excited to be able to return home and share St. Claire’s mission with the people of Morgan County,” said. “Throughout my over 30-year career, I have been proud to serve the folks in Morgan County and I am so excited to be able to bring these new opportunities and this new clinic to West Liberty.”

Not only will St. Claire be bringing enhanced healthcare to the people of Morgan County, in collaboration with the other healthcare providers and partners in that community and the region, but the new facility will also expand SCH’s educational mission.

The West Liberty clinic will serve as a clinical rotation site to educate and train future healthcare professionals including residents and medical students, pharmacists, therapists, allied health professionals, and others.

This exciting new project was made possible thanks to the collaboration of healthcare professionals and leaders at the local, state, and federal levels, and the generosity of Jon Will Stacy and the Stacy Family whose donation of property for the clinic, valued at just over $500,000, will make an impact on their community for generations to come.

“I cannot say enough about the Stacy family. Their kind generosity has been a blessing upon St. Claire and a blessing upon the people of Morgan County and the region,” said Lloyd. “We are tremendously grateful to the governor and his administration, our legislators and congressional delegation, Morgan County Judge-Executive Jim Gazay, and the entire Morgan County Fiscal Court for bringing this project to life. I also want to give a huge shout-out to Tom Carew and the entire USDA state team for their tireless efforts to see this project through.”

Construction on the facility is set to begin in early 2024. When fully operational, the clinic will employ approximately 30 staff with an average annual wage of $90,000.

To learn more about UK St. Claire, visit www.st-claire.org.

Photo caption: Tanner Brondhaver, DO, (left) and Wendy Lykins, APRN, (right) pose beside a rendering of the new clinic provided by EOP Architects.