Regional Health Services of Howard Co. celebrates grand opening in LeRoy

   “It’s a proud day for us,” said CEO Robin Schluter, who attended the ceremony along with the Board of Trustees, the LeRoy Economic Development Authority, clinic staff and many community members. 

   “Rural health care really needs champions, and this community, our Board of Trustees and our team are all champions for rural health care,” she said.

   For the last nine years, those seeking medical care have had to travel to Austin, Spring Valley or North Iowa. City leaders tried to get other health care providers to come to LeRoy and, over time, formed a relationship with Regional Health Services of Howard County, which was interested in opening a clinic in LeRoy.

   “We are based in Iowa, but our mission states ‘and surrounding counties,’ and this is a surrounding county for us,” Schluter said. “We partnered with some of the regulators in Minnesota, with the community here, and went through quite a few hoops to make it happen.”

   One key development came last year when the City of LeRoy purchased the clinic building from Mayo Clinic and is now renting it to Regional Health Services of Howard County.

   The clinic offers primary care services, and is slowly adding additional services, such as obstetrics services.

   “No one should have to drive an hour to have prenatal care or primary care,” Schluter said.  “We will also bring their medicines to the clinic, and we have ideas, as the clinic grows, to bring in mental health services and perhaps a small pharmacy, as well.”

   The LeRoy clinic can be reached at 507-547-0255. Current operating hours are Mondays, Wednesday and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., as well as Tuesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon. 

“We are excited to grow with the community, and we’ll partner with them on what services are really needed here,” Schluter said.”