Thursday, August 9, 2007

Hollands break ground on new clinic

by Kenneth Lassiter

The afternoon heat Friday made for a sweltering groundbreaking for the new Holland Eye Clinic along US-59 Highway in Oskaloosa, but if you asked Drs. Heath and Jeannette Holland, they’d probably say it was worth the wait.

The Hollands along with their children, Brady, 4, and Taeh, 1, clinic staff and project contractors lined up with shovels to dig in and break ground on the 2,400 square-foot new clinic. A group of bank, city and community officials gathered just south of The Guidance Center to mark the start of a project that was a long time coming, especially for Jeannette Holland.

Jeannette was emotional as she spoke to the small crowd about coming to town to start the clinic nearly 12 years ago.

“This has been two years in the planning,” said Holland of the clinic as she worked to maintain her composure. “I came here to start a clinic with nothing but student loan debt to my name. On paper it looked like it didn’t work. Thanks to commitment from our patients, friends and the community we have a good place here.”

The Hollands hope to have the new clinic ready to go by early spring 2008. Heinen Custom Operations is the main contractor and Heath Holland said other local contractors are being used for the work, which will triple the space available to the clinic. Heath, who has been with the clinic nine years, said the big improvements from the current office space on the west side of the square will be an office for both him and his wife as well as much more storage space and a possibility of up to three exam rooms. The Hollands will also use the project as a way to upgrade all their equipment. A small lab will also be included as Heath said the expansion may create the potential for the clinic eventually being able to make some of its own lenses.

While the Hollands have established a healthy practice in their current office space, Heath cracked a joke about the cramped quarters there.

“That little office has been good to us,” he said. “At a conference, I had a doctor ask how big our office is and I said ‘800 square feet’ and he was amazed. He said he has a closet that is bigger than that.”

Dave Taylor of the local chamber of commerce was on hand to welcome attendees to the groundbreaking in celebration of the newest business development in town. Both Hollands credited the support of the community and local businesses for making the project a reality.

Jeannette said the couple was looking at the project as both an improvement for their business and a way to give back to the community.

“We thank everybody for the commitment they make to the county and this is our ability to make that commitment back to them,” she said. “In that way, it means this isn’t just a Holland Eye Clinic project. It’s a county project.”

“We want to thank everyone with the shop-at-home mentality,” Heath said. He pointed out even the new and improved clinic won’t be huge, but it’s an improvement. “We realize we’re not at 95th and Metcalf (in the Kansas City area) but this will keep me from walking into the office and telling everyone to spread out.”