On Monday, the facility will be blessed by a pastoral care staff member. Starting Wednesday, the urgent care will be open every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. There are eight rooms, including two for telehealth. Walk-in patients will be evaluated and put on a “wellness path,” which may require quick access to medication, follow-up treatment, housing or all three.

“We are getting them aligned with the right care, in the right place, at the right time, so they are not going to have to wait as long to be cared for,” Michelle Schafer, regional vice president of behavioral health for SSM Health, said during a recent tour of the facility.

There’s a stack of bus passes to draw from as needed and a bus stop on nearby St. Charles Rock Road. Ambulances and police can drop people off at a side entrance near a circle drive. Health insurance is accepted, but not required. There’s no co-pay.

“If you don’t have access to insurance, we are not going to turn you away,” Schafer said.

She said SSM committed $2 million for construction costs and will operate the urgent care with the assistance of community partners. The facility, which is next to DePaul’s behavioral health outpatient clinic, will lean heavily on follow-up services at seven community mental health centers, including BJC Behavioral Health, Places for People and the Hopewell Center, which contract with the state to provide treatment. Preferred Family Healthcare and Queen of Peace Center, which help people addicted to opioids and other drugs, are also involved.