LPN Stephanie Hall, right, demonstrates a blood pressure chair where other blood work also is done for Colquitt Couty E-911 secretary Kay Sain during an open house for county employees at the clinic located in the Colquitt Hotel building.

A combined Moultrie-Colquitt County health clinic will become a reality on Tuesday when county workers can begin using the facility located in the first floor of the former Colquitt Hotel.

County workers got a preview of the facility this week with two days of open houses.

Colquitt County agreed last year to enter a contract with the city with the hopes of cutting down on health care costs, helping employees stay healthy and avoid expensive emergency room visits.

The two governments decided to join forces in the project after holding a meeting in October to discuss potential areas of cooperation.

Renovations of the office and examination space at the hotel cost about $8,000, city officials said this week. Two examination tables, an examination chair for blood work and cabinets were purchased, but the city had not received the invoices for those items.

The city first partnered with Riverside Manufacturing, which discontinued participation. The city has since operated the clinic on its own.

After the county absorbs the startup expenses of the first year, it expects potential savings for the county of at least $200,000 and possibly more.

The county hopes the convenience of the walk-in clinic will help steer employees away from more expensive treatment for minor ailments while keeping employees healthy.

The location selected is convenient for workers from City Hall and Colquitt County Courthouse and the courthouse annex building,

Only employees who participate in the county’s insurance program and their dependents are eligible to use it, so retired employees covered by Medicare or employees who are on a spouse’s plan cannot use the facility.

The county has about 377 employees and dependents eligible to use the clinic, while the city has about 211.

The county also has initiated a wellness program that rewards those who are nonsmokers and have healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels with lower premiums.

The county’s costs under the contract that takes effect Jan. 1 are $20 per employee enrolled in its health plan per month — about $3,800 for the current 190 participating employees who qualify — plus a monthly staffing fee of $8,927. The governments also are responsible for medical staff expenses, medical supplies, lab charges, pharmaceuticals, biohazard removal, equipment, office supplies and other items used to provide services.

The governments also will provide office and medical space, maintenance and housekeeping, utilities, phone service and phones, internet connection and office and waiting room furnishings.

A physician or physician “extender” such as a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant will spend 12 hours at the clinic each week, with a nurse at the facility for 20 hours per week.