Hope Clinic
This is a response to the letter published in the April 27, 2016 Glacier City Gazette “Girdwood Health Clinic responds to Hope.” It states, “On April 8, we received immediate resignation from our only employee in Hope and could not financially justify to rent a building that would be empty.” GHC had two names of local women to fill this void. One had been contacted and agreed to work. The other person, as far as we know, has not been contacted.
The letter stated the Hope paramedic’s time could not be billed, therefore, no revenue is generated. The only time the Hope clinic could bill was when the provider from Girdwood came to see patients. According to the letter, the Executive Director stated Girdwood made “over $5,000 in patient revenue. This is $5,000 for 12 days service.”
Over the last year, Hope Clinic hours were cut, and it became a “first aid station.” Hope residents were told to go to Girdwood for service, which meant the billable contact would count as Girdwood’s patient count not Hope’s. Since visits were tracked by address, it’s impossible to say how many patients went to the Hope clinic. If billable hours were the issue, a provider could have visited more often. Two weeks prior to closing, a trip report by a board member stated this was the plan.
The issue of how to structure the Hope Clinic had been discussed at length. The last two trip reports by a Board Member refer to this point. We expressed concerns and needs often. The original grant proposal had an extensive narrative on Hope demographics, needs and how to address them. The entire basis of the grant proposal was to efficiently and effectively serve residents of the Turnagain Arm, including Hope.
When renting the building for the clinic, a search throughout Hope was made for a viable location. The board members agreed unanimously to select the site. If a conflict of interest was an issue, the board, state officials and grant representatives should have brought it up. Everyone knew who owned the building. If it was an issue, the owner would have resigned, leaving one person from Hope on the Board to represent the community.
In a letter to the Alaska Primary Care Association, the ED misleads the association in believing the only board member representing Hope was the owner of the building, which is false. I have been a member of the Board since approximately 2012. I felt disrespected for the effort I have put in representing the Hope community.
There are specific points in the letter to address. The ED states: “There are points in the letter provided that is misleading or incorrect.” The letter was based on documentation. What is she referring to? The ED also states: “We provided training,” which amounted to computer training. Medical training was done independently and paid for by the Hope staff.
The ED further states: “We attempted to attend community meetings even given a day’s notice.” In September, the Board of Director was put on the Hope Village Council agenda. On the day of the meeting, we were notified that no one would show. For the January meeting, an invitation went out to board members and the newly hired ED. No reply was received. The board was to meet at least once per year in Hope, which never happened.
The ED states: “We properly accounted donations received in Hope.” After several requests, separate accounting was never done in financial statements. Checks given to Hope Clinic were deposited into the general Girdwood bank account.
The ED states: “We understand Hope is dealing with the fall out of our difficult financial decision.” We assumed since the grant used Hope demographics, the provider’s salary was covered regardless where the patient was seen. Having a provider in Hope on more frequent basis increases revenue. In the last board meeting the Girdwood members stated GHC was suffering from reduced patients despite the expansion of Girdwood staff. Therefore, they could not spend money on Hope, even the provider’s salary.
The ED finally states: “We continue to seek out community members who wish to have respectful, productive and creative dialog about needs and how they might be met.” To me, this is a slap in the face to Hope residents who have tried to work with the Girdwood clinic. From the beginning, we provided the board with our community needs, and many are life threatening.
We had many creative ideas and thought we were productive, but no action taken. We have always been respectful during board meetings when the discussion was fund raising for Girdwood.
During the last board meeting we asked to be put on the agenda a week ahead of time. It was accepted by the Board President who attended via telephone. The ED and acting Board Chair who resided did not acknowledge the request. Even when we insisted on being heard and turned in approximately 60 signatures requesting reinstatement, we were given ten minutes, and not allowed to completely discuss points. The board chair stood up and said she had things to do. She walked out complaining that we are taking up too much time. The meeting wasn’t properly adjourned. That is disrespect.
At the last meeting, the ED asked us to check into alternative places, complete needs assessment, and come up with money to pay a provider ourselves.
It is our assumption that the Turnagain Arm, including Hope was considered equal partners with providing access to medical services. The Hope Clinic was allegedly an ancillary of Girdwood, in other words, “One.” This did not seem to be the impression given by Girdwood board members.
To me, the real issue was their lack of desire to provide services promised.
In closing, the two resigned board members wish to move on and work with the community to find alternate solutions and put this behind us.
Dorinda Carner
Girdwood Health Clinic
To the Editor,
The Girdwood Health Clinic Board of Directors meets the third Thursday of each month from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the Girdwood Community Center. These meetings are open to the public, and we encourage community members to attend to observe how the board handles business, to understand GHCI’s funders and the compliance requirements to our funders and to provide valuable community input on needs and services. We also welcome community members to consider serving on a board committee or to apply to be a board member to help guide us in our mission.
Tawny Buck
Executive Director
Girdwood Health Clinic