ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
One of Liberal’s leading mental health providers has moved locations.
Over the Labor Day weekend, Heartland’s Hope Mental Health Center moved from its former location at 500 N. Kansas Ave. across from Memorial Library to its new locale at 11 W. Parkway Blvd. next to USD 480’s Central Office.
CEO and Managing Director Dr. Tera Robinson said she was hoping to be moved by the end of July, but plans fell through there. She did say, however, the move has been made and she and her employees are settling into their new office.
Robinson said the reason for the move and the choice of location went hand in hand.
“We needed more space, which is a wonderful problem to have,” she said. “We had a great location where we were, and when we moved in there, I thought we would never fill all of this space, but we did. We needed more space. Parking had become an issue where we were. In this location, we have our own parking. That’s been fantastic and one of the things our clients have commented on positively.”
In addition to the new space, Heartland’s Hope also has some new equipment in the form of the invisa-RED, the latest innovation in body slimming technology that can be used to shorten the time it takes to reach desired weight goals.
The invisa-RED laser, Robinson said, helps with Heartland Hope’s mission of revealing inner beauty, revitalizing confidence and making visions reality.
“As industry leaders, we offer the most innovative and cost-effective programs in laser aesthetics, weight loss and total body wellness,” she said. “Clients experience an ambiance of true relaxation during their time with us. All individualized programs are safe, painless and extremely effective in providing clients with real results.”
Each session removes up to an inch of unwanted fat from any problem area. Treatments are ideal for both men and women, eliminating fatty areas that are unresponsive to diet and exercise.
Robinson said she feels the invisa-RED laser is a wonderful addition to Heartland’s Hope.
“It’s FDA cleared, IRB cleared for weight loss, aesthetics, including skin tightening, cellulite reduction,” she said. “We’re really excited to be able to offer that kind of service to the Liberal community and our smaller surrounding communities. Most people don’t have the time to go to Wichita or even Garden City two to three times a week. It’s a big ask and hard to pull off.”
Robinson said both the new location and the invisa-RED laser will allow Heartland’s Hope to bring even more services to the people of the communities it serves, as will two new providers in graduate interns Krista Mathies and Janet Apsley.
“They did their internships with us, and Krista will be coming on full time at the beginning of November,” Robinson said. “Janet finishes graduate school in December, and her plan is to continue working in her full-time capacity where she currently is and offer evenings and weekends through here. We have more providers, and we’ve opened up evenings and weekends – two weekends a month for people who need that if their schedule dictates they can’t get away during the day.”
Robinson said all of this is extremely helpful for clients, and soon, Heartland’s Hope will have a med prescriber in place, something staff is certainly looking forward to happening.
“We get calls frequently about that, and up to this point, we’ve not had anyone who prescribes the medication,” she said.
Robinson said she is extremely excited about all that is happening with her center.
“We love the new location,” she said. “It doesn’t look anything like it did. It needed some updating. It still had carpeting up the walls in the waiting area from a bygone area. We’ve painted it and put new flooring in, and it feels bright, fresh and clean. We’re really excited about it.”
Southwest Medical Center’s annual Community Health Fair is Saturday, Oct. 4, and staff from Heartland’s Hope will be part of the Health Fair for the third consecutive year.
“All of the staff plans to be there answering questions for people, bringing awareness to mental health and the needs,” she said. “There is a significant need across the country, across the world. Certainly in our country and our area, there is a significant need as evidenced by how busy our therapists stay.”
As with her new office, staff and equipment, Robinson too is excited to once again be part of the Health Fair.
“The hospital does a great job,” she said. “All of the sponsors are fantastic. They offer some great services for little to no cost for our community.”
Heartland’s Hope Mental Health Center is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.
To make an appointment or for more information, call 620-604-5111, visit www.heartlandshope.com, e-mail
