The Putnam County Health Department celebrating its first year of operation in its permanent Monterey facility.
Public Health Director Lisa Bumbalough said the clinic has seen a significant increase in patients. Bumbalough said the establishment of the clinic followed years of planning and collaboration between the Department of Health and local officials to make care accessible.
“We’ve been pleased with the growth too over the years,” Bumbalough said, “Because bringing services into a rural community, we’ve really removed some barriers that have prevented those residents from getting the care that they need, such as transportation challenges, travel costs, or time away from their work or families.”
Bumbalough said the clinic provides a wide range of services including immunizations, WIC nutritional assistance, family planning, and primary care for acute illnesses and chronic conditions. The facility also offers lab services, an on-site med room, and administrative services such as birth certificates.
“We’ve heard so many patients who are so grateful that they no longer have to drive down Monterey Mountain for routine appointments or public health services,” Bumbalough said. “Many of the residents just need a birth certificate and so now they don’t have to travel down the mountain in even inclement weather, if they’re struggling with financial problems or having transportation issues, they don’t have to struggle and face that barrier.”
Bumbalough said the clinic accepts most insurance plans, including TennCare and Medicare, and utilizes a sliding fee scale based on income and family size for uninsured patients.
“When healthcare is available closer to home, people are more likely to seek preventive care instead of waiting until a health issue becomes an emergency,” Bumbalough said. “So that in fact is hopefully reducing ED visits and readmissions to hospitals and just improving the overall health of a community.”
Bumbalough said the transition to a permanent building was a major milestone after the clinic spent its first eight months operating out of mobile units with limited space. The permanent location has allowed the staff to host community classes, including exercise sessions led by health educators and cooking classes led by dieticians.
“We also are very excited that we’re able to offer community classes to that area more easily and readily available to those in the community,” Bumbalough said. “We have health educators that offer exercise classes to help with mobility and strengthen your bones.”
Bumbalough said the health department is now focused on increasing outreach and awareness to ensure every resident knows the facility is available to fill gaps in local healthcare.
“The clinic was expanded to serve Monterey for years to come,” Bumbalough said. “So we want to certainly hear from folks and see what they need.”