The Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center Board of Directors heard a report on the hospital satellite walk-in clinic in Buena Vista Tuesday night from physician Tom White. The report revealed that the patient need is there, but staffing remains a challenge.
White told the board, the clinic is performing well but faces some challenges in staffing to meet patient demand. The facility is open 1 – 5:30 p.m. weekdays, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. It is staffed by doctors and nurse practitioners, augmented by additional nurse practitioners and nurses.
He reported the demand for family practice type services is readily handled during the week but is more of a challenge on weekends. “The clientele ranges widely,” said White. “[Coming not just from] Buena Vista and Salida, but from communities a longer distance away, and tourists to the area.”
White said that feedback is generally positive on the convenience of the walk-in clinic. The clinic operates on a ‘first-come, first-serve’ basis with the exception of more emergency cases, which has generated some complaints about waiting times. He said that staffing is a challenge on weekends when demand varies widely. But he added that there was a need to have two nurses on hand at all times.
Another challenge is the shortage of walk-in waiting room space. White said the waiting area sometimes spills into other medical provider rooms when available. Another challenge is internal communication in the space. For instance between a registrar working the front and staff nurses who are constantly moving between the treatment areas.
HRRMC is scheduled to open its new patient pavilion on the HRRMC Campus in Salida around May 6. Photo by Lee Smith
Triage for arriving patients is of high importance, said White and one concern is ensuring proper care is provided for minor emergencies, as opposed to patients who want a routine physical, medications renewed or who are there to see their primary care doctor. A separate triage room for patient interviews with a nurse working the waiting room may be a solution to such needs. He noted that emergency room relations are important, especially involving patients who come to the clinic whose condition is more complex.
As summer and the high tourist season approached, with fluctuating daily demand, White said he is anticipating staffing needs will continue to be a concern.
New Outpatient Pavilion Update
CEO Bob Morasko reported the plan for the new outpatient pavilion completion remains May 1, with staff relocations beginning May 2. The first patient visits at the new pavilion are projected to begin May 6.
Board member Tom Eve reported a water pressure issue had been solved with the addition of a separate water service line for the Dialysis Unit. Board member Jean Moltz reported the hospital foundation would sponsor a May 31 tour of the new outpatient pavilion for its invited donors.
Other action
The HRRMC board tabled consideration of the purchase of five replacement defibrillators for use in the emergency department as well as other departments. An additional five defibrillators are budgeted to be replaced in 2020.
Also tabled was the consideration of the expansion of the outdoor exercise trail and purchase and installation of a trail shade structure for group wellness programming activities.
Solvista Health has purchased a lot from HRRMC and has plans underway to build an office and clinic at the location. It will first lease space now occupied by the sports clinic at the U.S. 50 locale once the clinic moves into its new location. Soloist offers healthcare including mental health, 24-hour crisis services, addiction recovery and more with offices in Cañon City, Salida, Westcliffe, Buena Vista and Leadville.
The board also discussed concerns about staff turnover rates which have been trending upward, especially among non-professional positions. Discussion included how a tight job market may be affecting those trends. Morasko pointed out that other medical facilities might not see similar trends because they contract out many of the non-professional services.
Morasko also reported an agreement with Colorado Springs Cardiology for providing cardiology services at HRRMC has been updated and that an agreement for providing direct access lab testing service to the town of Westcliff had been completed.
In the administrative report to the board last month, it was noted; “Chaffee Ambulance continues to refuse to transport most psychiatric patients from the ED (emergency department) despite having a contract with our organization to transport ALL patients. Additionally, Solvista Health offered Chaffee EMS $400 per psychiatric patient with Medicaid to help offset their transportation costs but there is still no movement with EMS’s willingness to transport these patients.”
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