Fruita residents will soon have a shorter commute when taking their children to the doctor's office. Know More about this new Primary Care Partners pediatric center.

Doctors, staff as well as patients were invited to tour the new facility on Friday. It's located in the Kokopelli Business Center in Fruita, right off I-70. Staff says the office will make a lot of families happy.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held to open the new Western Colorado Pediatric Associates office Friday morning. The pediatric doctors at the Grand Junction PCP office have wanted to open a Fruita branch for some time. That's because around 1800 pediatric patients live in the Fruita area.

On March 20th, the decision was made and planning went into action. Construction started on June 1st of this year, and the building is already complete. It has six patient rooms and will serve those patients who don't want to make the drive to Grand Junction.

"Being a pediatrician, we are all about trying to make our patients' lives easier. And just one new thing we can do for them is provide care in their hometown," Western Colorado Pediatric Associates Dr. Claudia Jantzer said.

"The doctors are excited to have it here. The patients have been asking for years, ‘When are you going to have a spot here for them, closer to home for our Fruita families?’" Dr. Mike Pramenko added.

The pediatric office will open this coming Monday for business. There will be five staff members, including some doctors who will be rotating between the two pediatric offices. Patients can get all of the same health care services that they received at the Grand Junction office now in Fruita.

The office will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. It's closed Saturday and Sunday.