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Healthcare providers move to benefit patients
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| Tina Smith, left, and Laurel Kibler, both directors since November, stand in the lobby of SSMC. Ruth Ruiz, right, is SSMC receptionist and scheduler. (AINSLEE WITTIG / ARN) |
By Ainslee S. Wittig/Arizona Range News
The Northern Cochise Health System Specialty Clinics are now located in the Sulphur Springs Medical Center behind the hospital.
"The move (of the specialty clinics) from the West Wing of the hospital to the clinic is more conducive to the continuity of patient care," said Laurel Kibler, director of Rural Healthcare, which includes the Sulphur Springs Medical Clinic (SSMC) and the Sunsites Clinic.
Kibler said the move Monday allows the providers for the specialty clinics to be close to the providers for SSMC.
"If Dr. (Henry) Wedig or Angela (Schroedl, physician assistant) decides to refer a patient to a specialist, that patient can go right to the receptionist and make the appointment," she said. "It's also a spacious building with a lot of room in the waiting area."
There are currently 17 specialty clinics that visit Willcox, three of which are new: Dermatology, Neurology/Pain Management and Oncology.
Tina Smith, director of Specialty Clinics, said everyone is excited about the changes.
"Change is a good thing. There are adjustments to be made, but change brings opportunity, and the exposure of the public to the specialty clinics will help everyone realize all the providers we have available."
Kibler added that the loss of one doctor at SSMC (Dr. Jocelyn Santos) brings the opportunity to recruit a family practitioner to the clinic, "a provider who sees all members of the family, not just adults. In a small community, it's a way to increase the demographics of the people we can see."
An additional provider may spend time at both SSMC and Sunsites Clinic, where Dr. E. Richard Singer and Schroedl both spend time.
And, as the specialty clinics move from the West Wing, Dr. Jefferey Bushman will move into the West Wing Jan. 15 from the mobile building where he is currently located, which is not meeting his needs, Kibler said.
"Very few renovations have needed to be made to accommodate all of the moves," said Harley Smith, CEO of NCHS. "And what renovations we made were done in house, so the cost was minimal."
Smith said he hopes to move an outpatient psychiatric care unit for senior citizens into that mobile building soon.
"It is a place where seniors with Medicare can go if they are depressed or jut having trouble coping with getting older. It's all cost-based Medicare reimbursable and it's great for the community," he said.
"The move (of the specialty clinics) from the West Wing of the hospital to the clinic is more conducive to the continuity of patient care," said Laurel Kibler, director of Rural Healthcare, which includes the Sulphur Springs Medical Clinic (SSMC) and the Sunsites Clinic.
Kibler said the move Monday allows the providers for the specialty clinics to be close to the providers for SSMC.
"If Dr. (Henry) Wedig or Angela (Schroedl, physician assistant) decides to refer a patient to a specialist, that patient can go right to the receptionist and make the appointment," she said. "It's also a spacious building with a lot of room in the waiting area."
There are currently 17 specialty clinics that visit Willcox, three of which are new: Dermatology, Neurology/Pain Management and Oncology.
Tina Smith, director of Specialty Clinics, said everyone is excited about the changes.
"Change is a good thing. There are adjustments to be made, but change brings opportunity, and the exposure of the public to the specialty clinics will help everyone realize all the providers we have available."
Kibler added that the loss of one doctor at SSMC (Dr. Jocelyn Santos) brings the opportunity to recruit a family practitioner to the clinic, "a provider who sees all members of the family, not just adults. In a small community, it's a way to increase the demographics of the people we can see."
An additional provider may spend time at both SSMC and Sunsites Clinic, where Dr. E. Richard Singer and Schroedl both spend time.
And, as the specialty clinics move from the West Wing, Dr. Jefferey Bushman will move into the West Wing Jan. 15 from the mobile building where he is currently located, which is not meeting his needs, Kibler said.
"Very few renovations have needed to be made to accommodate all of the moves," said Harley Smith, CEO of NCHS. "And what renovations we made were done in house, so the cost was minimal."
Smith said he hopes to move an outpatient psychiatric care unit for senior citizens into that mobile building soon.
"It is a place where seniors with Medicare can go if they are depressed or jut having trouble coping with getting older. It's all cost-based Medicare reimbursable and it's great for the community," he said.
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