The Sawtooth Mountain Clinic’s annual meeting on June 24, 2013 was short and sweet, but its list of accomplishments for the year was long.
“Healthcare in America is in a constant state of change,” wrote Medical Director Paul Terrill, MD, in his 2013 report prepared for the annual meeting. He listed some of those changes: “The Affordable Care Act/Obamacare; new technologies; new drugs; old drugs gone generic; aspirin is good for you, then it’s not, then it is again; take extra calcium, then don’t. Against that backdrop, Sawtooth Mountain Clinic continues with its mission of providing comprehensive primary care to the residents of Cook County, regardless of their ability to pay.”
The clinic’s net gain for the 12-month period ending in April was $150,000. At the end of the previous April, the clinic had had a net loss of over $350,000. Factoring out effects from participation in a federal “340B” Drug Pricing Program allowing reduced costs for pharmaceuticals through the Health Resources and Services Administration, revenue had increased 11 percent and expenses were flat.
Numerous outreach efforts were conducted, including blood pressure screenings, foot care clinics, child and teen checkups, a workshop on management of chronic disease, healthy living initiatives such as the fourth annual Move It in May community exercise challenge, WIC (food vouchers and nutrition education for women, infants, and children), and flu shots administered to 514 people.
Board President Carol DeSain commended the staff for its work on two audits. The clinic recently passed a federal audit that verified compliance with requirements for Federally Qualified Health Centers. It is preparing for a state audit that would certify the clinic as a Minnesota Medical Home, a system of coordinating care for people with chronic, complex health conditions or disabilities. Dr. Terrill wrote that under the Medical Home program the clinic would be trying to increase screenings for cervical cancer.
CEO Rita Plourde wrote in her annual meeting report, “Sawtooth Mountain Clinic (SMC) is one of the smallest FQHC [Federally Qualified Health Center] community health centers in the nation, serving one of the largest geographically isolated rural service areas.” She said that in the last year, “…SMC’s user demographics increased in the area of uninsured and underinsured patients. Patient co-pays and insurance deductibles continue to rise, accessing health care services continues to be a challenge for many patients, and patients who have either lost their health insurance or have had to increase their deductible continues to rise.” She said “economy of scale” continues to be a challenge.
The clinic has been awarded numerous grants, including a federal Health Resources and Services Administration grant of $637,158 to continue its work as a Federally Qualified Health Center, a $55,000 Minnesota Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) grant to promote healthy eating and physical activity as well as other smaller related grants to reduce chronic illness and promote healthy living, and a $45,000 grant from the state to help the clinic cover the cost of care for people who cannot pay.
According to Dr. Terrill, the SHIP project will focus on decreasing tobacco use, obesity, coronary artery disease and diabetes.ately u “oKeyea hto this interventionn willwspapebe .trainingAd ma in the method of motivationaleed o be dec interviewing,” ased he wrote,slightly“enhancingin size providers’o fit skill in helpingyourpatientscolumn choose/sizes. make the important lifestyle changes that will benefit themPleas thedo most.”not b
The clinich ise dsreceivingIf you h ve$60,000 – 100,000 a uestiyear forns, threelease yearsal to assist the MinnesotaMNA at Department800/2 9- of Health develop2979 andTh nklaunchyou a pilot project to integrate mercury screening and advice on fish consumption into clinical practice with women of childbearing age.
The clinic continues to maintain computerized health records and is working to upgrade its website. A report from DeSain states in regard to the website, “It was noted by our federal auditors as a ‘best in nation’ example of community outreach and it continues to grow and improve… headed this year toward patient portal opportunities.”
DeSain listed this next year’s challenges as implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act and meeting the requirements of the state Medical Home designation. The clinic will work with Cook County Public Health & Human Services to help people understand how the Affordable Care Act will affect them.
“All the years I have worked here I have felt extremely fortunate to work with a dedicated and committed staff,” said Chief Executive Officer Plourde. She also complimented the 14-member clinic board, saying that it had been difficult to find qualified board members at other nonprofits she had worked with elsewhere, but not here.
“It’s a world that is ever-changing. Health care is ever-changing,” said Plourde. “I think we do good work.”
Leave a Reply