The 10-year strategic plan of DAP Health, known as Vision Forward, is projected to be completed by 2025. The initiative seeks to enhance the organization’s service capacity from its current 10,000 clients to a staggering 25,000. The organization holds a firm belief that this expansion will provide significant benefits to the community.
C.J. Tobe, Director of Community Health and Sexual Wellness at DAP Health, expressed his views on the project. “To me, it’s all about creating more access points to people in our community,” Tobe said. He further added, “And opening these new clinics in this capital expansion — that’s exactly what it is.” Tobe emphasized the positive impact of the expansion stating, “It’s going to serve more people, and people are going to be healthier and happier.”
DAP Health stated that this expansion was initiated in response to the Affordable Care Act. After its implementation, many lower-income Californians gained access to healthcare services which led to a surge in demand for DAP Health.
The initial phase of this plan involved purchasing the former Riverside County Health building adjacent to DAP Health’s Barbara Keller LOVE Building. This was followed by renovations and the establishment of three primary care clinics and a sexual wellness clinic within it. Subsequently, DAP Health collaborated with the Coachella Valley Housing Authority to develop a second permanent supportive housing structure named Vista Sunrise II. This structure will add 61 new affordable-housing units on DAP Health’s Palm Springs campus.
However, due to challenges related to supply chain issues and increased labor and material costs, construction of Vista Sunrise II has not been completed yet. Upon completion, the next phase will commence which involves constructing the Desert Care Network Health Pavilion. This 19,000-square-foot structure will connect the Barbara Keller LOVE Building and Annette Bloch CARE Building. It will feature a central registration area for all clinical services, a diagnostic lab, a pharmacy, and a café.
Maria Song, Principal Architect at International Design Corporation – the firm overseeing the project – stated that “these are really impressive plans.” She anticipates the Desert Care Network Health Pavilion to be completed between June 2024 and the end of 2024. The design received approval from the city of Palm Springs last year. Song emphasized the importance of collaboration in this process which has been yielding positive results.
In a press release, DAP Health CEO David Brinkman expressed that their approach to healthcare transcends beyond the traditional definition of health care itself. He believes Vision Forward will contribute significantly to this once it is completed. Brinkman stated with excitement, “to be able to go from offering all this to 10,000 folks today to 25,000 people at the completion of this campaign is extremely exciting.”
