Broad challenges are impacting healthcare today. It is acknowledged the widespread issues of the difficulties in hiring qualified professionals – trends observed not just nationally but also within the Midwest and Iowa facilities and medical clinics.
Trama Vetter, CCMH Director of Clinic Services, shed light on the multifaceted nature of these challenges.
“The rising cost of living and the general shortage of qualified workers in the healthcare sector are significant contributing factors to the issue of patient care. Nonetheless, CCMH maintains an unwavering commitment to provide the best possible patient experience.”
CCMH is a Patient Advocate
Vetter has been employed in healthcare since 2011 and obtained her BSN in 2020. Vetter’s passion for community involvement and direct patient care drew her back to the clinic setting.
“I appreciate the profound importance of building trust with patients and actively participating in their health journeys beyond the confines of a single shift. Clinic nurses are vital advocates for their patients. In our instance, our clinic is expanding, welcoming new nursing staff and general providers to meet the increasing needs of our patient population. Part of our expansion included recognizing the community’s demand for acute appointments. Cyilee Martin, a dedicated family practice, now provides care focused entirely on those patients who are in immediate need.”
Healthcare Costs Continue to Rise
Rising healthcare costs are an ever present concern for patients. Vetter acknowledged that nothing in life is without expense.
“CCMH operates just like other healthcare providers, within a framework influenced by patient insurance coverage, including primary insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. It’s crucial for the public to understand that our clinic charges are largely subject to the regulations and reimbursement rates set by insurance companies and federal guidelines. The notion that healthcare providers can arbitrarily set prices is a common misconception. In reality, these external entities significantly dictate the financial landscape of healthcare services.”
Less of a “System”, More of a “Collection”
Vetter says the current U.S. healthcare “system” often feels more like a collection of interconnected yet sometimes disjointed entities.
“It’s difficult to understate the importance of patients actively understanding their insurance coverage. The assumption that being insured automatically covers all medical expenses can lead to unexpected financial burdens. We encourage patients to proactively investigate their specific plan details. CCMH strives to provide transparency through good faith estimates, though these can sometimes be surprising for patients when they realize the extent of their coverage limitations. Thankfully, our dedicated financial counselor group is available to assist patients in navigating these complexities.”
New Provider Added
With the addition of providers like Cyilee Martin, Vetter provided a glimpse into the high volume of activity within the clinic.
“It’s common for our clinic staff to manage over 400 phone calls in a single day while we can only see, on average, about 200 to250 patients daily. Scheduling acute appointments is a dynamic process, heavily influenced by the immediate needs of the clinic, such as during peak flu seasons. Our proactive approach involves a collaborative effort with our patient access manager to analyze trends, anticipate needs, and strategically block provider schedules to accommodate these acute care demands.”
Scheduling Appointments
There is understandable frustration some patients experience when trying to schedule routine appointments, such as blood work or annual wellness visits, which may sometimes be delayed by several days.
“Our patient scheduling reality is rooted in our commitment to providing thorough and comprehensive care during each visit. An annual wellness visit, for instance, is not just about lab work; it involves a comprehensive evaluation, taking the necessary time – often around 30 minutes – to truly assess the patient’s overall health. This dedication to quality care sometimes necessitates a slight delay in scheduling, but it reflects our commitment to our patients’ well-being.”
Clinic Expansion Project Continues
While acknowledging the current “beautiful chaos” of the clinic expansion project, Vetter emphasized the long-term benefits.
“This expansion will ultimately allow us to add more appointments and providers, significantly improving patient access in the future. Despite the temporary inconvenience, progress is being made, and the end result is firmly focused on enhancing patient care.”
Warm Faces and Medical Expertise
Vetter describes the CCMH Medical Clinic as one filled with warm faces and excellent expertise, where the primary focus is always patient care.
“I’m immensely proud of our facility and staff. If someone with questions about our services or construction project needs to reach out, I can be contacted either through our website at ccmhia.com or by calling 712-265-2700.”
Despite the challenges, the commitment of CCMH to providing quality, patient-centered care remains the top priority. We encourage you to reach out and experience the warmth and expertise of our CCMH team firsthand.
