CareSource announces plans for health hub at former Good Samaritan Hospital site

CareSource announced they will open its first CareSource Health Hub at the new YMCA being built on the site of former Good Samaritan Hospital.

Seven organizations plan to occupy space in a new facility at Philadelphia Drive and Salem Avenue in northwest Dayton. The development, called Premier Health YMCA Health and Wellness Center, will be a 52,000 sq. ft. facility. In addition to the YMCA, the building will also house services and programming from several partners including: CareSource, Premier Health, Wright State University, County Corp’s HomeOwnership Center of Greater Dayton, United Way of Dayton and Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley.

Officials from the organizations partnering on the site say the investment will create a community anchor that promotes healthy living and next generation learning. The partners see this facility as an asset and amenity for the northwest Dayton community and beyond. It will be a one-stop shop for residents that is responsive to the needs identified by hundreds of local stakeholders.

“It’s a very exciting project for us,” said Dr. Judith Davis, vice president of care coordination at CareSource. “I’m most excited for the community and what this project is. Additionally, there will be a fully operational kitchen classroom to educate individuals and families on healthy recipes, training/conference room and an office. We will utilize close to 1,350 square feet of the new building.”

CareSource hopes to fill gaps by providing education on managing and living with chronic conditions like diabetes, as well as filling other gaps in care, like doctor visits and access to diabetic monitors. In addition, CareSource will be helping people understand the importance of good nutrition and will work with local chefs on meal planning.  

“While CareSource was deciding how best to use the space, we looked at challenges the community is facing,” added Davis said. “Diabetes is prevalent in the area with limited access to healthy food and ingredients.”

The seven partners are expected to employ about 80 people at the new facility.

The YMCA of Greater Dayton anticipates filling half of the 50,000-square-foot facility and will be full-service, featuring a gym, natatorium (pool) and fitness center that will serve families in northwest Dayton.

The United Way of the Greater Dayton Area plans to move its main office from downtown Dayton to the new health and wellness center, occupying about 3,000 square feet of space.

Wright State University plans to use approximately 3,500 square feet of space in the new facility as several offices, a pair of classrooms and a conference room. The university plans to provide an array of services including academic instruction, advising and internships.

Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley will operate two programs at the new facility, which will help more than 500 people in the West Dayton area achieve economic self-sufficiency and a better quality of life.  They will occupy approximately 2,300 square feet of space with its comprehensive case management and employment program and the Miami Valley Works Program.  

County Corp. plans to occupy approximately 300 square feet of space in the building that it will use to meet one-on-one with clients of its HomeOwnership Center. They also plan to conduct future homebuyer training and homeowner education programming on site in the community space within the facility.

Premier Health expects to occupy about one-fourth of the new facility’s footprint with plans to put an urgent care facility into the new building as well as physician offices and physical therapy, medical imaging and lab services.

“CareSource wants to pull back from the sick care model, in which patients get treatment for symptoms after they get sick instead of addressing overall health and well-being prior to patients developing illnesses,” added Dr. Davis. “We’re going to enter in this community with a wellness and prevention model right in our space. We will have community health workers who are from the north Dayton community at this location to help their members learn how they can maximize their benefits.”