Health center officials comment
Saturday, May 10, 2008
THE BOARD of Directors of Flint Hills Community Health Center would like to address our experience related to physician services for our organization and our working relationship with Newman Regional Health.
Since receiving funding to establish a Federally Qualified Health Clinic in 1997, FHCHC has had five medical directors, with the most recent appointment being Dr. Michael Mawdsley, who stepped into that role on April 5, 2008. The first medical director and full-time physician for the health center was Jay Ciotti, M.D., who left the organization to join his wife and other physicians in a private practice here in Emporia. The Ciottis later left the community to start a practice in Colorado. Dr. Ciotti was succeeded by Pritpal Singh, D.O., who served as medical director for three years and then left the health center and the community for family reasons. Dr. Singh was succeeded by Ron Carson, D.O., who served as medical director for slightly over two years, leaving in October, to join Shawnee County Health Agency in Topeka. Crystal Hill, M.D., was then named medical director but elected to leave the community to join a private practice in another community because her husband accepted employment in Wichita.
In each instance, the relationship with the administration of the hospital was not a reason for the departures of these physicians; however, Dr. Singh, Dr. Carson, and Dr. Hill all cited the hardship of on-call responsibility and inpatient care when being handled either solo or with only one other family practice physician. These issues, call coverage and inpatient responsibilities, have become significant barriers to FHCHC in recruiting additional physicians to the health center. Newman Regional Health’s recent consideration of hiring hospitalists holds significant appeal to FHCHC as enhancing its ability to attract and retain physicians to join the practice.
In addition, the board and administration of Newman Regional Health have been important partners for FHCHC, from their role in supporting the early start of a primary care clinic and acquisition of the current facility to the cooperative relationship that exists between the leadership of the two organizations.
There are always multiple perspectives for any community issue, and the Board of FHCHC appreciates the opportunity to share its perspective on this issue of physician-hospital relationships.
Helen Gibson, president
Richard Old, vice president
FHCHC Board of Directors
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