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A new community health center that
received a $604,000 federal grant has opened in Hardin, Mont. The new Bighorn
Valley Health Center hopes to provide 4,800 yearly visits. As a private,
nonprofit health care corporation, it will “fill the gap in health care
services,” states Dr. David Mark, interim CEO of the center. However, leaders
of the long-established Hardin Clinic, owned by St. Vincent Healthcare, argue
that there is no gap and that existing clinics in the county are enough to
serve the population. Hardin Clinic serves approximately 19,000 patients
yearly.
Dr. Mark points out that nearly half
of the 13,000 residents of Big Horn County—dominated by two Indian
reservations—do not have access to primary health care services and are
medically underserved. He claims that even with the current health care options
available at the Hardin Clinic, many residents are not receiving the care they
need. He declares that Bighorn Valley Health Center does not want to compete,
but wants to work together with existing facilities. The Bighorn Valley Health
Center will be staffed with 12 people and will emphasize prevention by helping
patients manage the most prevalent diseases facing low-income communities, such
as HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, diabetes, and hypertension.
Yet St. Vincent Physician
Network-Hardin Clinic leaders are not convinced of the need, saying that the
new Big Horn Center is within blocks of an established primary-care facility.
Hardin Clinic leaders point out that a number of clinics are affiliated with
the St. Vincent Physician Network and provide care to patients, regardless of
the patients’ ability to pay. Also the Indian Health Service has health
facilities and satellite clinics in the area. “These clinics, along with the
Hardin Clinic, are substantial enough to care for a county population of
13,000,” said John Kinna, executive director of the St. Vincent Physician
Network.
The new Big Horn Valley Health
Center will hold an open house on Sunday, November 4 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00
p.m. The center is located at 10 Fourth St., W., Suite B in Hardin.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
