Swope Health, the leading provider of healthcare for underserved individuals and communities in greater Kansas City, announces the re-opening of its Vision Center at the Central facility, 3801 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., in Kansas City.
The Vision Center is part of the significant renovations at the health center, including its central lobby with its new pharmacy, entrances, vestibule, security station, vendor kiosk and community room. The Vision Center is located in the main “A” building, immediately to the east of the newly renovated entrance on the first floor.
The Vision Center now has four exam rooms (up from three) and two testing rooms (up from one), with an improved flow for greater efficiency and patient experience. In expanding to 2,572 square feet (from 1,962 square feet), the center also has new storage and break areas and an expanded reception area and lobby.
The Vision Center, with an overall project cost of about $620,000, including furnishings and equipment, now draws rave reviews from associates and patients at Swope Health.
“When our patients see the new Center for the first time, they consistently tell me how impressed they are with it,” said Dr. Vincent Parsons, Optometrist and Swope Health chairman of optometry. “The reactions are quite positive.”
He noted the Vision Center is easier for patients to find and more accessible, with popular and patient-friendly automatic doors for entry and exit.
“If you haven’t been here in a while, I’d like to invite you to come,” Dr. Parsons said. “We think you’ll like what you see.”
Behind the Vision Center renovation:
a success story
The Vision Center is just one element of a major renovation underway at Swope Health. In 2021, Swope Health’s main central lobby renovation was completed by Purdum Construction of Overland Park, KS, and the new pharmacy, on the west side of the lobby, was completed by Newkirk Novak Construction Partners, of Lenexa, KS.
Swope Health, fulfilling its commitment to reinvest in the community by doing business with Black-owned enterprises, hired LM2 Construction and Consulting of Lee’s Summit, Mo., for the Vision Center project even though healthcare facilities development was a new business area for the firm.
“It is our mission to improve the lives of the people in our community,” said Jeron Ravin, JD, President and CEO of Swope Health. “That includes making sure we demonstrate ways to combat systemic bias in economic development. We have an opportunity and an obligation to use our buying power to support businesses owned by Black, Indigenous and people of color for the good of the community. We see it as another part of our equity work, and we invite other organizations to examine how they spend money through that same lens.”
Ravin said he always had confidence in LM2 and encouraged LM2 President LaTasha McCall to find a solution that could win the Swope Health project and open a new line of opportunity for her company.
“I knew I could do the work, but I also knew I would benefit from some experienced guidance,” said LaTasha McCall, noting that her firm had just celebrated its fifth year in business as a general contractor working in office, residential and retail development. “My solution was to seek out McCownGordon to subcontract for me and build a relationship that was a win for all of us.”
McCownGordon Construction, a Kansas City-based construction firm, has completed more than 1,100 projects in its 20-plus years in business, including a wide range of healthcare projects – hospitals, medical office buildings, imaging centers, pharmacies and more.
McCownGordon Construction and LM2 Construction initiated their relationship in 2018 when they participated in a formal mentorship program through the City of Kansas City. Since then, McCownGordon has partnered with LM2 on multiple projects throughout the metro, providing advice and support at various times when needed.
“We’ve formed a strong partnership over the years and were honored when LM2 asked us to partner with them to provide additional expertise on this healthcare project,” said Daniel Lacy, Vice President, and Business Unit Leader for McCownGordon Construction, who leads its healthcare services. “We are excited about the growth of LM2 and remain committed to supporting them in any capacity that leads to their success.”
And the results?
Even in the midst of the supply-chain chaos caused by the COVID-19 pandemic – including material and labor shortages, shipping delays and business closures – the project successfully completed on time and with high-quality construction results.
Swope Health’s renovations will continue into 2022, Ravin noted.
“We look forward to a long and close relationship with LM2 and McCownGordon,” said Ravin, adding that LM2 has also been awarded a new project – the renovation to the health center’s sterile processing center. This complex and critical infrastructure project involves installation of a new sterile washer for medical and dental equipment, entailing new ventilation, electrical and plumbing work.
The new project will begin in April 2022.
