Sawtooth Mountain Clinic expands behavioral health services to Cook County’s west end this summer

Starting in July, Sawtooth Mountain Clinic will expand behavioral health services to the west end of Cook County with a satellite location at Birch Grove Community School.

The expansion is part of a multi-year effort to increase the clinic’s capacity to provide mental health services in Cook County. In March 2025, the clinic hired a behavioral health director and added a behavioral health consultant to the team.

This summer, the clinic will have a therapist available at Birch Grove Community School one day a week.

Kate Surbaugh, CEO of Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, said the clinic hopes to also offer “some opportunities for telehealth to other specialists or to other therapists as well.”

“It is a way to have a satellite location just to meet people where they’re at, so they don’t have to drive to Grand Marais,” said Surbaugh.

Also, this summer, the clinic is welcoming a director of clinical services to the team to help improve efficiencies in the clinical day, Surbaugh said.  “This is somebody who can be in charge of the whole patient experience from the moment folks walk in the door until they check out.”

A priority for the clinic in the coming months will also be applying for funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program.

Congress created the Rural Health Transformation Program to help offset financial pressures on rural hospitals and encourage innovative care in rural areas.

Surbaugh said the funding could help the clinic allocate resources to focus on prevention and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Other opportunities, Surbaugh said, include expanding nursing services in Cook County, implementing remote monitoring equipment, adding advanced software at the clinic, and more.

“I am working with our team, as well as the other rural clinics across the state, to put together a plan that really uses those dollars to best benefit rural communities,” Surbaugh said.

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke to Kate Surbaugh, CEO of Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, about the expansion of behavioral health services, the rural health transformation program, 340B, and other legislative priorities for the clinic, staffing, and more. Audio below.

Kalli Hawkins May 14, 2026