On Jan. 9, representatives from the Basin Clinic had a meeting in the West End with the Montrose County Board of Commissioners, specifically about funding. Basin Clinic Executive Director Christina Pierce said in a presentation the county has an obligation “to support all citizens to make sure tax funds are spent prudently.” She added clinic representatives appreciate that the county takes their responsibility seriously.
Pierce said on Aug. 29 she, with her board’s support, made a presentation to the county, regarding staff challenges, medication needs and other items. She also said they needed funding for their building, updated medical equipment and a complete organizational assessment and strategic plan.
After that meeting, commissioners chose Peak Professionals, of Montrose, to do an assessment of the clinic. Pierce said in September, Peak conducted a 20-minute Zoom call with the clinic and requested supplemental materials.
Pierce mailed them by Oct. 25.
On Oct. 26, the Basin Clinic got a report back of “milestones” it needed to meet.
In last week’s meeting, Pierce told commissioners the clinic disagreed with many of the “milestones” that Peak Professionals outlined. Some of those have since been completed; she said others are impractical.
Pierce said the board knows Basin Clinic needs to make changes. They’ve recently attained grants from the Telluride Foundation and also Rocky Mountain Health Foundation, and those monies will be put toward the organizational review and the strategic plan. That’s to be completed by December.
Pierce and the board remain concerned about the clinic building. The carpet is stained and worn. The flooring is cracked in exam rooms. The soffits are falling apart in places. Also, the roof pillar needs repair.
Additionally, Pierce said the clinic believes the helipad is important. They disagree with Peak’s idea of deactivating it, or asking flight teams to pay for it. With 22 flights last year, they said it’s necessary.
They also disagree with the idea of not taking emergencies. Peak’s idea is letting only EMS handle emergency situations, but last year, the clinic saw 301 emergency situations.
Pierce said rural health centers (RHCs) are required to deal with emergencies. They’re included in the public safety sales task that the commissioners passed in 2007. Pierce and the board are unhappy that while the tax has grown a larger fund, the clinic’s allocation of funding has decreased significantly over time.
Last year, the Basin Clinic received $100,000; the sheriff’s department got $14 million. This year the clinic requested $325,000.
Commissioner Sue Hansen said in last week’s meeting her board operates conservatively and scrutinizes what it gives. She said people think the county is flushed with money, but that commissioners have to be careful of what they spend. She said commissioners have put a lot of money into the West End. She said she doesn’t want to be looked at as the “big, bad bear.”
“I feel good about the decisions I am making,” she said.
Pierce said the clinic is improving. Reimbursement rates are higher, and more revenue is coming in. Staffing has become more streamlined. She said getting the clinic self-sustaining is the goal. She’s looking for additional grants that can support it.
Commissioner Roger Rash said he was always looking for grants for the Basin Clinic.
Many citizens attended the meeting and voiced their concerns over funding and fears of the clinic closing.
Hansen said commissioners never said they wanted to shut it down.
While no decisions were made at last week’s meeting, Pierce was notified Jan. 12 that the county was releasing $125,000 in funding of the $250,000 it’s earmarked for Basin Clinic.
