Letter About Bear Lake Clinic & Response From Clinic

 

A LOCAL BUSINESS NEEDS AN ATTITUDE CHANGE

 

I believe we should always try to support our local businesses, but Bear Lake Community Health Center sure makes that effort difficult.

 

Our son is staying with us at Swan Creek Village as he recovers from liver and kidney failure. His kidney specialist wrote out an order for a simple blood test to check his recovery progress.

 

I phoned to see if he could get this test locally, spoke to a guy, who turned out to be in the Logan office, as the Garden City phones were apparently forwarded (at mid-day).

 

I asked him if he could give me an estimate of cost for the test, as our son has no health insurance. He said we would have to visit the clinic to find out the cost, and also advised me to prepare a letter detailing his medical condition and finances.  He said that discounts were available if certain qualifications were met.

 

Armed with the letter, we paid a visit to the Garden City clinic. There we were told that our son would have to be physically examined by the local staff as a new patient before any blood test could be taken. Meanwhile, they asked him to fill out a very comprehensive medical history form.

 

I explained that I felt the specialist doctor’s blood test order was akin to getting a prescription filled, and objected to the required preliminaries that they wanted to impose. I felt that this was going to cost a lot more than necessary, and was only making the patient pay for protecting the clinic from any legal problems.

 

And, by the way, discounts for services could only be offered if and after the preliminary new patient procedure was completed.

 

In December of 2012, my wife had visited the clinic complaining of an earache, and she got the same new patient story, which ended up costing Medicare $109.00. I can only wonder at what the new patient work-up would cost an uninsured patient, as the clinic receptionist did not want to discuss or investigate those costs.

 

The conclusion of our last visit was their advice that we might be better served by driving to Intermountain Health Care, where they already had him in their “system”.

 

I subsequently telephoned the Executive Director of Bear Lake Community Health Center, a Mr. LaVal B. Jensen, and naturally got to talk to a solicitous phone operator who took my number for a call back which never came. By the way, she said I should try to call back again if I didn’t hear from Mr. Jensen in a WEEK!!!

 

And so we are left to wonder why we make the effort to support local business.

 

James J. Wise

961 West Cisco Run

Swan Creek Village

PO Box 15

Garden City, Utah 84028

 

 

 

 

                          Bear Lake Community Health Center Response

The Bear Lake Community Health Center Is mindful of the difficulties that exist when navigating the healthcare setting, and strive to minimize those difficulties for our patients in any way that we can. We also recognize that our Patients have a choice in selecting their Health care provider, and are very appreciative of the opportunity to serve those community members and visitors, who have chosen us to be their Health Care Provider and with whom we have accepted the responsibility for their care.

When accepting that responsibility, it comes with a commitment from us to provide excellent Patient care. That care is ensured by dedicating the required time and effort, including highly trained medical staff and resources to meet our patient’s needs. As a Community Health Center, we offer services in Family Practice, Primary and Urgent Care, Dental services, Behavioral Health services and Pharmacy. Although we do limited lab services for our patients, we are not a licensed third party lab, and as such most of our lab requests are sent out to other third party Labs for results. In order for us to fulfill our obligations with insurers, remain compliant with laws, and provide necessary treatment plans and follow-up, we must first establish valued relationships with our patients. This requires multiple processes and paperwork that is required to provide quality care and to meet our appointed obligations.

With the exception of prescription requests and refills within our Pharmacy, or in the case of emergencies, all services rendered at The Bear Lake Community Health Center are for use only by those patients who are willing to establish care. If services are needed and there is an unwillingness to establish care with our organization, the best option is to refer the individual to the provider, hospital or outside lab service that they have previously established care with and that have mutually agreed to be responsible for their care.

The Bear Lake Community Health Center’s charges are based upon data collected from a nationally recognized and reputable third party organization and they are highly competitive with other Physician offices within the region. The Health Center is not a free clinic and does expect a reasonable income from the quality services that it provides. Proceeds received, in part, can then be used to increase services rendered to those in need.

The Health Center offers a special sliding fee discount program to those who are uninsured or underinsured depending on their income and family size. Once the application has been filled out and approved, they can expect certain agreed upon discounts for services rendered.

The Health Center has a protocol established for patient concerns and resolution, with qualified personnel trained to assist patients with their questions or concerns. If there are questions or concerns they may be directed to the Bear Lake Community Health Center’s Business Operations Director, or the Compliance Officer at (435) 946-3660. If further contact is needed they are welcome to call LaVal B. Jensen, Executive Director directly at (435) 994-0854.

The Bear Lake Community Health Center appreciates its place in the community, and will strive to serve its patients through offering excellent service and quality care.