Starting next month, employees of Augustana College will get many of their health care needs taken care of at Rock Island city hall. Monday night the city council approved a one-year agreement with the college to use the city's Wellness Center.
Rock Island human resources director, John Thorson, says the walk-in clinic opened seven years ago for employees, but has since added pre-employment physicals, drug testing, and workmen's compensation claims.
And so far it's more than paid for itself.
It's staffed by a nurse practitioner and l.p.n, both employees of Genesis Health System, who take care of cuts, sprains, blood tests, and drug prescriptions.
Thorson says under the agreement with Augustana, there'll be no cost for its employees, but the college will pay the city 50 dollars per visit. And since it's located in city hall, the clinic will only be open Monday through Friday from 7 to 5.
In March, Rock Island County cancelled its contract with the city after three years, and since then the city had been looking for another agency or organization to use the Wellness Center.
