From the CEO

From the CEO

As we leave the heat behind, this fall is going to be an exciting time here at Kaweah Health as many projects we have been working on will come to fruition.

Crisis Stabilization Unit Opens in October

First, in November we will be opening the new Child and Adolescent Crisis Stabilization Unit in partnership with Tulare County Health and Human Services. This facility, focused on adolescents and transitional age youth (18- to 21-year-olds), will provide care for up to 12 patients around the clock, creating a safe space for young people while their future care is coordinated. Instead of receiving care in the main hospital emergency department, patients experiencing a mental health crisis can go directly to the CSU to be evaluated and begin services with a provider.

Cory Jaques, MD, will serve as the medical director of the CSU facility. He is exceptionally passionate about improving the mental health of our children and adolescents, and we are thrilled to have him leading this initiative.

The facility, made possible with a nearly $5 million state grant, is housed in the former Boy Scouts of America building near Oval Park in Visalia. The project has been in development since March 2022, and we are excited to see it scheduled to open this fall.

Service Expansions Also Planned for Fall

Also in the fall, we will be expanding services in two different areas.

We are opening a new physical therapy clinic in Tulare. There has been a need in the community for this type of service, and we are happy to have found a location on the west side of Hillman that will make it convenient for those in Tulare and the surrounding areas.

We will also be opening a laboratory service center for lab draws in Exeter, located directly across the parking lot from the Exeter Rural Health Clinic. The community has been missing this convenience since we had to close our previous draw station in 2020. We anticipate that this draw station will quickly become popular, serving residents in Exeter, Woodlake, Three Rivers, and the surrounding areas. As with all our draw stations, patients will be able to make online appointments, helping keep wait times to a minimum.

Ambrosia Café Reopening

We are also eagerly awaiting the reopening of Ambrosia Café, pending all the proper certifications. It has been completely remodeled with all new paint, lighting, hardware, equipment, and furniture that will give it a cozier, coffee house atmosphere. Our food and nutrition staff have completed Starbucks University training and will be able to prepare a much wider range of Starbucks beverages.

The café will also feature expanded food options including spicy breaded chicken sandwiches, Beyond Burgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, chimichangas, popcorn shrimp baskets, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, seasoned green beans, battered mushrooms, jalapeño poppers, corn nuggets, pepper jack bites, potato wedges, pigs in a blanket, pretzel dogs, and empanadas.

Ambrosia will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Looking Forward



These are just some of the exciting things we have coming up. We also continue work on the new Akers Medical Clinic, which will give us much needed clinic space for primary and specialty physicians. Lab Services will be consolidating its Mineral King and Willow Plaza locations into the 202 Willow Building, right across from the Retail Pharmacy. All of these developments represent our continued commitment to serving the healthcare needs of our community.