Christina Pierce, executive director for Basin Clinic, has been working to publicize an immediate need to raise funds. She told the Forum on Dec. 18 the Naturita-based medical center now has an unexpected situation it needs to take care of as soon as possible.
Basin Clinic has been working with St. Mary’s Hospital of Grand Junction since 2011, when it broke from Montrose Memorial Hospital, for X-rays and the storage of imaging. Now, St. Mary’s will no longer continue the partnership.
Basin Clinic has X-ray equipment, but technology is needed for storage and transmission. At this point, Pierce said Basin Clinic needs to come up with approximately $20,000, and it must choose a new partner for the technology work.
The clinic could work with Radiology Partners, a national company, but Pierce said that’s a big conglomerate, and the clinic board would like to keep business more regional. Another option is working with Community Hospital of Grand Junction, something the board is leaning toward, though the official decision has not been made.
She said either option will be about the same in cost, but with Community Hospital, Basin Clinic would be able to keep the images.
Pierce said it’s important to keep X-rays available in the West End. It means local people don’t have to travel four hours round-trip, if they need care. She’s working on social media to spread the word to see if people are inclined to donate. She said it’s possible for people to make donations on Basin Clinic’s website.
The Forum asked about other ideas, if the clinic could go for grants.
“Writing a grant that fast is almost impossible,” Pierce said.
She added they didn’t know the costs of the partnership dissolving when they first heard the news a few months ago, and now that they’ve gotten the numbers on expenses, they need to ask fast.
The Forum also asked if Basin Clinic should get rid of Athena, their electronic medical records (EMR) software, to potentially communicate better with other facilities. Part of the dissolution with St. Mary’s is related to the fact that St. Mary’s doesn’t use Athena. St. Mary’s was accepting faxes from Basin Clinic, but no longer wishes to do so.
Pierce said getting rid of Athena is not the answer. She also said all clinics have a certain EMR, and that all EMRs have to work to connect to each other. She said Athena can be made to communicate with the technology at Community Hospital.
What about asking towns or counties for support? Pierce said the Basin Clinic board has not done that yet. Fundraising is the focus at this point.
The Forum asked about deadlines on the funds and technology purchases. Pierce said it’s looking like the end of January or February. She hopes there are no interruptions in services for patients.
Pierce said Basin Clinic definitely has enough to worry about at this time without the X-ray situation that has come up.
“We are continuing to work on all that needs done, and this is another wrench thrown in,” she said.
Anyone who wants to donate to Basin Clinic should contact the board, Pierce or get on the website and use the Paypal option.
