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Correspondence: July 22
About Quincy Community Health Center
This year, Quincy Community Health Center enters its eighth year of service to the Quincy Valley. After a quiet beginning in 2002, QCHC has grown into a bustling clinic that served over 6,700 patients last year. Despite the important role of QCHC in the local healthcare landscape, there are a few misconceptions about our clinic that are frequently encountered in the community. I would like to take this opportunity to answer a few questions commonly asked by community members:
Is Quincy Community Health a “free clinic” run by the government?
QCHC is a satellite clinic of Moses Lake Community Health Center, a non-profit organization governed by a board made up of local residents, including patients from our clinics. This ensures that we are responsive to the communities that we serve. We are not “run by the government,” but we do receive 20 percent of our budget from government grants to enable us to provide care for people with no health insurance. No one receives free care, but those who have no insurance pay a sliding scale fee based on their income. Most of our income comes from insurance payments and co-pays, just like any other clinic.
Is Quincy Community Health a “migrant clinic” that serves only immigrant agricultural workers?
QCHC welcomes all local residents seeking quality primary care, including those with private health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid and those with no insurance at all. We certainly are committed to meeting the healthcare needs of immigrant agricultural workers as part of our core mission. But many small business owners and their employees who cannot afford health insurance also benefit from our services. Our patients increasingly represent a broad cross-section of Quincy Valley residents: from orchard owners to farm laborers, realtors and the homeless, premature infants and the elderly, athletes and amputees. Our staff and our patients are your neighbors—ask around!
How does Quincy Community Health relate to Quincy Valley Medical Center?
QCHC and QVMC play complementary and interdependent roles in providing healthcare to our community. The four physicians employed by Quincy Community Health admit patients to the Quincy hospital and care for patients admitted there. We refer patients for valued hospital services in the physical therapy, x-ray, surgery and emergency departments. We also help the hospital’s financial bottom line by caring for patients with no health insurance—folks who would otherwise resort to costly emergency room visits when they fall ill, but are unable to pay for this care. Quincy Community Health maintains collegial and collaborative relationships with QVMC Administration and Medical Staff, and seeks to help the hospital continue to thrive.
Why is Quincy a “revolving door” for doctors who never stay in town for long?
It will always be a challenge for a rural community like Quincy to attract and retain medical providers, especially in the context of a nationwide shortage of primary care providers. However, several of our providers have proved loyal to the community over the longer term: Dr. Mark Vance (more than 10 years in Quincy), myself (more than 7 years), and Donna Dabney, PA-C (more than 6 years). This core, along with our two new physicians (Drs. Lomarda and Espiritu) and Nurse Practitioner (Valerie Kato, ARNP), are passionate about providing the quality care this community deserves.
On behalf of Quincy Community Health Center, I hope this letter clarifies our mission and role in the community. It has been a joy to serve and be a part of this community for the past 7 years.
— Rob Shelly, MD, FAAP
Quincy Community Health Center
Agrees with PUD editorials
Chuck Allen — your July 8, 2010 editorial was right on! What happens to Crescent Bar will have a great impact to the Quincy area. Now is the time to speak out.
We live near Crescent Bar, pay Grant County taxes and are Grant County PUD ratepayers. We support the residences of Crescent Bar. We support greater shoreline access and public use of the land. Why isn’t there room for all? These are difficult economic times. Logic and common sense dictate we utilize what is in place, charge the leaseholders the appropriate rate and build for the future.
In June 2022, no one wants to read in the Post-Register that after being closed for 10 years, local, state and federal agencies finally have the permits and budget to take down the chains and reopen Crescent Bar Island. Your July 15, 2010 editorial — again, right on! Hey, Grant County PUD, show me the money!
— Tom and Jan Harris
For Berndt
It’s easy to come up with a campaign slogan or sound bite to get the attention of interested voters. “Save a Million.” “Time for Change.” But does that really tell you who the candidate is and what they stand for? I’m writing this letter of support for Bob Bernd for Grant County PUD commissioner because I know what he stands for and what he has already accomplished as a PUD commissioner. Bob has been a lifelong friend that I have always admired because of the way he lives his life. Everyone knows he has been a successful businessman, but what they may not know is that throughout his life he has always been a devoted family man, a great friend to many and a dedicated community servant. He has always taken the time to be involved and give back to his community.
Bob doesn’t always take the popular position, but he always has good reasons for his action and he is willing to listen and consider other points of view. Bob makes good decisions that result in successful outcomes. When Bob gets involved he has always been a leader, not a follower.
The election of a PUD commissioner is one of the most crucial positions in Grant County that affects us all. Bob has worked hard to be a good commissioner. He is active at the state and national level representing the citizens of Grant County. He is never too busy to meet if it is involves the PUD and Grant County. Bob Bernd has shown us he is the right person for the job. Please join me in supporting Bob Bernd for PUD commissioner with your vote.
— Jon Lane, Moses Lake
Gayle Sorlien commented, on July 22, 2010 at 4:10 p.m.:
As a voter, ratepayer, property taxpayer, Port of Quincy taxpayer and a lifelong citizen, I say the CB leaseholders need to show me the money.
There are many conflicting messages, blogs and presentations on how much money they make down there on their rentals.
Even with their conflicting information on how much they spend in Quincy they need to show an itemized effect they have on the Quincy and more importantly the Grant County economy. Their contribution is less than a drop in the bucket.
If they have the money, time and energy to produce a newspaper, brochures (+mailing expense), a pr firm, a 3 minute radio infocommerical, blog in the many newspaper websites, write letters to the editor, etc -they have time, money and energy to move.
The PUD is conducting business with confidentiality and under the the cloud of CB lawyering up and public threats of "legal options." As a ratepayer, taxpayer and voter they are doing what they need to do under the law. At this point in time, they do not have to show you the money. I have faith that they will reveal the money aspect when they unveil the final plan to FERC in October. But in the meantime, we have to hear all of the conspiracy theories with self interest and personal gain agenda.
I support the PUD Commissioners and the PUD staff -completely. Let them do their jobs.
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