SANTA CRUZ, CA | By Jondi Gumz, Santa Cruz Sentinel | POSTED:
Original article can be found at: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/
The safety net clinics, which provide services regardless of patients’ ability to pay, are: East Cliff Family Health Center, Santa Cruz Women’s Health Center, Salud Para La Gente, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, Dientes Community Dental and clinics run by the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency.
These safety net clinics have added staff and expanded facilities to see more patients.
Of all the safety-net clinics, Salud Para La Gente provided the most patient visits in the county last year, 104,406, followed by 61,636 at county clinics.
About 78 percent of people receiving care at safety net clinics are considered low income under federal poverty guidelines.
“They have the coverage, now we need to see them,” said Maritza Lara, program coordinator for the Health Improvement Partnership of Santa Cruz County, which produced the report.
Data from 2016 show safety net clinics:
• Employed nearly 100 doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and registered nurses, compared to fewer than 35 in 2012.
• Employed more than 50 psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and family therapists compared to fewer than 35 in 2013. Data from 2012 was not available.
• Employed nearly 50 dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants compared to fewer than 40 in 2012.
Visits to safety net clinics increased 42 percent since 2012, with 48 times as many visits for “mild to moderate” mental health issues.
With the goal for all county residents to have a regular source of primary care integrated with behavioral health services by 2020, services were added each year.
• 2012: Santa Cruz Community Health Centers became “federally qualified,” providing federal reimbursement for services to those unable to pay. Dominican Hospital started a mobile clinic, and the county began providing medical care at the Homeless Services Center.
• 2013: Planned Parenthood on the Westside and Santa Cruz Community Health Centers started behavioral health services.
• 2015: County opened dental clinic in Watsonville; Salud acquired Pacific Coast Pediatrics and opened Salud at Valle Verde pediatrics office. Covered California enrollment began.
• 2016: Salud started 24/7 obstetrics hospitalist program at Watsonville Community Hospital and opened two new OB/GYN offices, including one at the hospital. Salud got a federal grant to hire a dentist, hygienist and oral health coach and finished expanding the East Beach Street clinic. Dientes opened one dental chair at the Homeless Services Center.
Here’s how Dr. Penelope Brooks sees the change: “Having behavioral health clinics integrated into the primary care setting allows me to now see my patients in three dimensions instead of two.”
On Tuesday, county supervisor John Leopold will join Amy Peeler, Dori Rose Inda, Eva Montes-Portis, Leslie Conner and Laura Marcus, each a safety net clinic leader, and Elisa Orona of the Health Improvement Partnership at a luncheon 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the East Cliff Family Health Center, 21507 E.l Cliff Drive, to celebrate their accomplishments and discuss what’s next.
MEDI-CAL GROWS
The number of Santa Cruz County residents covered by Medi-Cal* has grown 140 percent in five years.
2012 22,797
2013 25,121
2014 39,355
2015 47,234
2016 54,795
*State Medi-Cal and Central California Alliance for Health
Source: Safety Net Coalition of Santa Cruz County
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