The former MercyOne Traer Family Medicine building in downtown Traer pictured on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. The clinic’s last day in operation was Dec. 9, 2025. Beginning this April, the building will again be home to a medical clinic following the announcement last week that Peoples Community Health Clinic, Inc plans to open a new satellite clinic in the building. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TRAER – In the wake of Traer’s MercyOne clinic shuttering this past December, Peoples Community Health Clinic, Inc. announced on Thursday, Jan. 22, that it is planning to open a new permanent satellite clinic in Traer with a proposed start date of April 1, 2026. The new site will expand access to high-quality, affordable primary care services in Tama County – a rural area facing documented healthcare access challenges.

Peoples Community Health Clinic, Inc., established in 1976, currently operates federally qualified health center (FQHC) sites in Waterloo and Clarksville. In 2024, the organization served approximately 18,000 patients, continuing its long-standing mission to improve health outcomes and reduce barriers to care for underserved communities.

The opportunity to establish a Traer satellite clinic emerged following notification from the Iowa Primary Care Association (IPCA) that MercyOne Traer Family Medicine, located at 200 Walnut Street, ceased operations on December 10, 2025. IPCA identified the need for a community health satellite clinic to ensure continued access to medical care for residents of Traer and the surrounding rural area of Tama County.

The closure of this clinic created additional access barriers in a county already facing significant health challenges. According to the 2023 Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan published by Tama County Public Health & Home Care, “Tama County is ranked amongst the least healthy counties in Iowa at 85 of 99.”

Peoples Community Health Clinic is collaborating with North Tama Medical Associates, a nonprofit corporation formed in 1975 that owns the Traer facility. Both organizations are excited to work together to ensure the continuation of accessible, high-quality medical care for the Traer community and surrounding rural areas. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to preserving local healthcare access and supporting the long-term health and well-being of Tama County residents.

The Walnut Street entrance to the now-defunct MercyOne Traer Family Medicine pictured this past Monday. In the weeks since MercyOne shuttered its practice in the downtown Traer building, signage has been removed, including on the facade of the building which faces Second Street. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Community leaders have expressed strong enthusiasm for the planned clinic. Jared Bauch and Rex McKee, representatives of North Tama Medical Associates, shared, “We are delighted that a provider of the stature of Peoples has committed to maintaining broad medical services in Traer for the greater North Tama communities. The permanent commitment and evening hours are of great benefit to us all.”

Local elected officials echoed that excitement. Traer Mayor Pete Holden responded, “This is wonderful, wonderful news for our community!”

Healthcare partners in the region also welcomed the announcement. Dann Larmore, administrator of Sunrise Hill Care and Rehab Center, said the organization looks forward to working with Peoples Community Health Clinic to meet the needs of both residents and staff.

The proposed Traer clinic would operate as a permanent satellite site under Peoples Community Health Clinic, Inc., leveraging the organization’s established infrastructure, policies, and clinical systems. Initially, the clinic would focus on primary care services, with the potential to expand services over time based on patient demand and staffing capacity.

Planned hours of operation total 42 hours per week, ensuring the clinic is open Monday through Friday, with extended evening hours until 7:30 p.m. on either Wednesday or Thursday. These extended hours are designed to improve access for working individuals and families and to ensure clinic availability every weekday.

“Expanding services into Traer reflects our continued commitment to meeting patients where they are,” said Christine Kemp, CEO of Peoples Community Health Clinic, Inc. “We are proud to partner with community stakeholders to help ensure that residents of Tama County have reliable access to primary care close to home.”

Additional details regarding services, staffing, and opening-day activities will be shared as planning progresses.

Staffing

Following Peoples’ announcement last week, the newspaper inquired as to whether any of the former MercyOne Traer Family Medicine providers and/or staff would be hired as part of the new clinic opening.

“We will be posting the positions for hiring,” Kemp said in an email. “Our organization has a union that covers all but the provider and admin positions for this clinic. So we will be following our normal hiring practices. Please encourage anyone that is interested in applying.”

Although no openings were as-yet posted for the new Traer clinic as of publication, employment opportunities with Peoples Community Health Clinic can be found by visiting https://www.peoples-clinic.com/about-us/employment-opportunities.

About Peoples Community Health Clinic, Inc.

Peoples Community Health Clinic, Inc. is a federally qualified health center serving communities in northeast Iowa. Founded in 1976, Peoples provides comprehensive, affordable, and patient-centered healthcare services regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. For more information, visit https://www.peoples-clinic.com/.