Today the River Valley Nursing Center (RVNC) will open in Chaska on Village Road.

The nursing center, which is open only one afternoon each week, will serve uninsured and under-insured individuals and families. Nursing services and referrals are provided there free of charge.

It will be the second such center to open in the southwest metro. A similar center opened on Canterbury Road in Shakopee in April 2005.

"It was always our goal that if (the Shakopee center) was reasonably successful, we knew we would open a Chaska location," said Joan Lynch, RVNC chair.

Since opening almost two years ago, the Shakopee location has seen more than 400 clients.

RVNC is able to offer blood pressure and glucose checks as well as nursing assessments concerning topics like diabetes, hypertension, pregnancy, child development and immunizations. They will also be able to offer referrals to local community services like Women, Infant and Children nutrition program, emergency fuel assistance and low-cost or free medical and dental care.

"This is preventative care," said Lynch. "We’re connecting people to health care and community resources."

The Chaska center will also have a bilingual nurse available for Spanish-speaking clients and has access to a language line for other non-English speakers.

- To learn more about this free clinic, read today's print edition of the Shakopee Valley News.