Chaffee People’s Clinic up and running

Salida & Buena Vista, CO., Chaffee Peoples Clinic a two-site primary health clinic for low income uninsured people who live or work in Chaffee County is celebrating and growing.  Since November 2009 the clinic has received over $82,000 in grant funding and community contributions.  Grant awards received last week by the clinic were awarded from the Colorado Health Foundation, the Caring for Colorado Foundation, the El Pomar Foundation and over $23,000 in community contributions has been received since November.

“I am thrilled at the success of our grant writing efforts as it’s a very competitive market out there right now for dollars and I’m profoundly grateful to the Chaffee County community for their response to our annual campaign initiated in November 2009.  Raising over $23,000 locally is a significant gauge that our rural community is in tune with what our 2 clinic locations do and provide in both Buena Vista and Salida.” Hodge stated.

In the clinics 2009 annual report presented to the County Commissioners last month the Clinic details its remarkable evolution in the scope and scale of its services to the uninsured and the resulting inevitable growing pains.   According to Miki Hodge, Executive Director, the next phase of growth for the Chaffee People’s Clinic will not be without some “bumps in the road.” The current 334 Grand Avenue Salida clinic is slated to move to the newly renovated Touber Building.  “In just three years, we have blossomed into a very important unit in the overall provision of health care in Chaffee County. Many hundreds of people now rely on us for their needs,” Hodge says.

The clinic’s work effort, which began in October 2006 with 2 part-time employees, a cadre of volunteers, and a dedicated Board of Trustees has grown significantly. Initially Chaffee Peoples Clinic served patients only 2 days a week – now CPC offers hours of operation 4 days a week County wide.  “If we could afford to be open more hours I have no doubt our patient schedule would be full,” Hodge states.  Currently CPC employs 1 full-time Executive Director, and 4 part time medical staff including an Adult Nurse Practioner and Physician Assistant.

Three local physicians also donate hours to the clinic to see patients.  For annual data ending in 2009, the clinic has managed 1,568 patient visits.   In 2008 the clinic saw 1117 patient visits which was a 54% increase from 2007.  In January 2010 the clinic saw 168 patient visits compared to 84 patient visits in January 2009.  2009 annual data shows almost three quarters of the patients who use Chaffee Peoples Clinic are employed. “Patients are often people who work one or more part-time jobs and do not qualify for health care coverage. Sometimes they work full-time jobs that do not provide adequate health care due to the employers inability to afford a reasonable plan.”

The staff and volunteers of Chaffee Peoples Clinic see the personal struggles facing so many Chaffee County residents. “For them the day begins with the decision between paying the rent, buying food for the family and getting life-saving medications. Many of our patients have had little hope of being able to afford their medications, pay for a doctor’s visit or taking care of chronic issues,” says Miki Hodge.

According to its annual report, the Chaffee Peoples Clinic provided $150,774.00 in services to the low-income and uninsured of Chaffee County – leveraging every dollar it receives to nearly five times its value.  “If it weren’t for our volunteers, our clinics in Buena Vista and Salida would not exist, simple as that.  Volunteers support everything from the patient check in process to providing direct patient care.” states Hodge.

Chaffee People’s  Clinic is the only clinic in the county that provides sliding scale affordable primary, and preventive care, including diagnostic testing and medications to the county’s low-income, and uninsured.

MEDIA CONTACT: Miki Hodge
719-221-3164/ mikihodge@gmail.com