The Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) celebrated annual Safety Net Clinic Week Aug. 17-23 with a luncheon in Naturita that honored the Basin Clinic. On Aug. 20, CRHC provided lunch for clinic staff, community members and local leaders. Nucla Mayor Paula Brown read a proclamation signed by Gov. Jared Polis, which highlights the importance of Colorado’s rural safety net clinics.
“Safety net clinics are essential points of access for health care services in rural communities across the state. In today’s environment especially, the importance of quality care that is accessible to those who are uninsured, underinsured or insured through public programs cannot be understated,” said CRHC’s CEO Michelle Mills. “CRHC hosts Safety Net Clinic Week each year to educate policymakers, health care advocates and community leaders on the necessity of keeping our safety net intact and thriving.”
Even though supplemental federal funding is unavailable to them, safety net clinics provide essential health care services to rural and underserved populations, state officials said. While safety net clinics are diverse in their business and practice models, they are comparable in their commitment to providing health care services to people in need. They continuously deliver valuable care to their communities, despite limited funding to support general operations, workforce challenges, growing reporting and accountability requirements, and ever-changing payment and delivery models.
CRHC this year chose to honor Basin Clinic for its dedicated service to rural Montrose County, and in light of the clinic’s recent recognition as a CRHC Top 10 Rural Healthcare Facility for overall performance.
“The efforts of Basin Clinic and other clinics like it often go unrecognized,” said Mills. “Showcasing the important work done by our members is what the week was all about.”
Basin Clinic’s executive director Christina Pierce commented.
“(We’re) honored to have been chosen as the featured clinic for Safety Net Clinic Week,” Pierce said. “Our team has been working hard to meet our mission: to provide exceptional, compassionate health care. Like all clinics, we do the best we can with limited resources and dedicated team members to provide health care to our communities. Thank you, Colorado Rural Health Center, for your work and dedication to advocate for our clinics.”
And, Chris Daniels, a Basin Clinic board member, also spoke.
"Speaking as a patient, my life was saved because Basin Clinic is where it is. If I had had to be transported 25 miles away, to another town, I would never have survived. That is the case for many of our residents, and for quite a few. The trip to another town for medical care is not even possible,” Daniels said. “The care delivered by Basin Clinic’s medical staff, and the professionalism from all those who work there in every capacity, is what makes it the clinic of choice. The entire team — from executive director to clinical staff to administrative personnel to custodial and maintenance — has one goal: to provide the best health care possible. That is why I am so proud of Basin Clinic.”
Additionally, Gov. Polis signed a declaration, proclaiming Aug. 17-23 as Safety Net Clinic Week in the state of Colorado. According to the proclamation, “rural primary care safety net clinics, including designated Rural Health Clinics, make exceptional contributions to the health and well-being of Coloradans. … We express our gratitude to these clinics who dedicate their time, energy and resources to serving their communities.”
The Colorado Rural Health Center was established in 1991 as Colorado's State Office of Rural Health. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, CRHC serves dual roles as the State Office of Rural Health with the mission of assisting rural communities in addressing health care issues — and as the State Rural Health Association, advocating for policy change to ensure that rural Coloradoans have access to comprehensive, affordable health care services of the highest quality.
For more information, the public may visit www.coruralhealth.org, call 303-832-7493 or call toll free 1-800-851-6782 from rural Colorado.
