Health Department, Hospital Agree on Care

BY NATASHA ASHE
SALISBURY POST

The Rowan County Health Department may be able to offer primary care services to its patients as early as next month, after establishing an agreement with Rowan Regional Medical Center.

The Health Department and Rowan Regional have signed an agreement that provides a physician who can admit health department patients to the hospital.

Dr. Desiree Johnson, certified in family practice, will provide primary care to clients at the health department, continue to see private patients at her office and ‘‘walk-in’’ appointments as needed at her office at 130 Mocksville Ave., which accepts Medicare, Medicaid and most managed care plans.

Johnson’s practice, Salisbury Medical Clinic, is operated by Rowan Medical Practices, Inc., a sister company of Rowan Regional Medical Center.

James M. Freeman, president and chief executive officer at Rowan Regional, said the medical center has been negotiating with the Health Department since last September.

‘‘We are pleased to be able to offer this service in conjunction with the Health Department and intend to work diligently with the Health Department staff to make sure the needs of their clients are being met,’’ Freeman said.

With this agreement, which takes effect March 1, the Health Department can apply to become a provider for Carolina Access, the state’s Medicaid case management program that allows Medicaid clients to sign up with private doctors for primary care. Faced with losing clients and funding, the health department also decided to hire doctors so it could function as a primary care provider and keep its clients.

As a last roadblock, the Health Department had struggled to find a doctor who would provide hospital admitting privileges. Recently, the Health Department board had discussed going to NorthEast Medical Center in Concord for that service.

‘‘Our goal is to be available for clients who are currently coming to the Health Department for services,’’ said Sharon Owen, director of personal health care services.

According to the agreement, Rowan Medical Practices will:

- Provide primary care to clients at the Health Department a minimum of two hours per week.

- Provide daily ‘‘walk-in’’ appointments at Johnson’s office at the request of the Health Department staff.

- Serve as ‘‘physician on call’’ for the Health Department’s telephone triage nurse.

- Serve as backup supervising physician for the Health Department’s nurse practitioner (required by state law).

- Provide consultation to the Health Department staff assigned to the Primary Care Program.

- Review and sign all Primary Care clinic records.

- Admit patients as needed, children and adults.

- Work with the Health Department, its nurse practitioner, and the department’s telephone call service to develop, review, revise and implement medical protocols.

- Review and sign standing physician orders.

- Authorize Health Department clients for after-hours emergency department visits when necessary.

Johnson received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Wellesley College in Wellesley, Mass., and her medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. She completed her residency in family practice at Columbus Regional Medical Center in Columbus, Ga.

In addition to her board certification in family practice, Johnson is certified in advanced cardiac and pediatric life support and in neonatal resuscitation.

‘‘We are continuing to work with other providers (physicians) in the community as to how they can also be involved in our primary care services,’’ Owen said. ‘‘We are anxious and very excited.’’

Officials anticipate services will be available by mid-March.