The Basin Clinic’s future has been in question for a few years, and many in the West End are wondering what is to happen with the small, rural medical facility. Last year saw some tension with clinic representatives and Montrose County Commissioners, but that seems to have eased. Last year, the clinic did indeed receive its $250,000 as promised, and it began internal improvements.
And, this year, commissioners just allocated additional funds. After last week’s May 7 county meeting, the clinic received an additional $125,000, on top of the annually budgeted $250,000, to meet its operational and organizational needs.
Executive Director Christina Pierce told the Forum she’s grateful.
“We thank commissioners for the extra funding,” she said. “We are thankful to the commissioners — Sean Pond, Scott Mijares and Sue Hansen — for all they’ve done in continuing to support the clinic, as we work toward stability and wherever our future lies. … The whole team is grateful — the board and the staff.”
She added there will be expectations, but the clinic is ready to meet those stipulations.
She said the funds are needed now to finish the strategic planning and implementation.
Jason McCormick, of Fruita, has been guiding that planning process. Now, McCormick is set to come to the West End for an update May 19 at the Nucla Community Center. Then, at 6 p.m., the West End will have the opportunity to hear McCormick’s recommendation for the clinic’s future. There is also a Zoom link, available online, on the Forum’s Facebook page. In this way, folks may attend remotely to hear the suggested plan, which does require board approval. Pierce told the Forum the clinic board would be meeting the following night, May 20.
“McCormick will present and answer questions,” Pierce said. “All are welcome.”
Pierce is not at liberty to speak to any of the clinic’s possibilities at this time, though she did tell the Forum two weeks ago that one option is the clinic remaining as it is.
To those questioning why Basin Clinic isn’t just merging with Uncompahgre Medical Center (UMC) in Norwood, there’s a reason. Pierce said that’s been attempted a few times, and once it nearly happened. It’s complicated.
UMC is a federally qualified health care center. In this way, it receives federal funding and has stringent guidelines. For Basin Clinic to become part of UMC, the feds would have to approve such a move. The last time the merger was sought, Basin Clinic was not approved. In fact, during the last attempt, only five clinics nationally were approved, and none in Colorado made the list.
Pierce said what’s more is that once a clinic becomes federally qualified, it cannot be anything else. She said while Basin Clinic isn’t offering 24-hour care at this time, it has in the past — and if that’s something the community would like to see again, Basin Clinic shouldn’t become federally qualified.
“An FQHC can’t be a 24-hour facility,” she said.
As the West End waits to hear about the clinic update, Pierce said mid-level providers are on site and seeing patients now. Angela Miller and Robert Tapley are working throughout the week, and the clinic not being open due to lack of staffing is very low-risk at this time.
