Pediatrics of Steamboat Springs practice, which has been providing comprehensive children’s medical care to the Yampa Valley for more than 20 years, opened a third clinic location in August at 426 Oak St. in downtown Steamboat.

The medical practice has offices on Central Park Drive in Steamboat and on South Walnut Street in Hayden. The third location is dedicated to wellness visits and behavioral health, and is the primary clinic for Dr. Sheila Fountain and licensed practical nurse Amy Curry with hours Monday through Thursday.

The overall POSS practice now includes two nurse practitioners and five doctors with the hiring this month of pediatrician Addie Smith.

Fountain said she sees the clinic expansion as an opportunity to grow the services of integrative medicine and behavioral health for the pediatric population in the community. She has studied pediatric integrative medicine and is passionate about using this approach in treating mental health conditions such as ADHD, depression and anxiety. Integrative medicine also can provide a different treatment model for chronic conditions such as headache, fatigue and abdominal pain.

The approach of integrative medicine often involves longer appointment times and an individualized treatment plan that combines conventional Western medicine and evidence-based complementary therapies, Fountain noted. A treatment plan might include components of nutritional support, supplements, mind-body therapies and a focus on exercise and sleep.

“There is an increase in a desire for an alternative approach to medical care or integrative medicine,” Fountain said. “There is also a need to increase support for the emotional well-being of our children and adolescents and improve access to behavioral health services. We aim to provide more availability for ‘slow-medicine’ and a personalized approach to wellness.”

Fountain said the clinic also will provide same day availability for urgent mental health concerns with a goal to prevent mental health crises and Emergency Department visits for mental health diagnoses.