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NEWPORT – Chief of Medical Staff Dr. Jeremy Lewis applauded the success of a new service in the Newport clinic – Express Care – during a Newport Hospital & Health Services Board of Commissioners met Thursday.
Express Care was established for non-emergent, walk-in visits, so there is no appointment required.
Newport Hospital and Health Services kicked it off last Fall, but it’s been growing ever since, Lewis said. He also said it will be good to extend Saturday hours when the hospital hires another physician assistant.
Express Care was created in response to the community’s request for urgent care services, recognizing a gap in access to urgent, non-emergent services.
“Initially, we were able to staff the services with existing providers until we hired Eric Renk,” said Jenny Smith, Director of Strategy & Community Engagement.
Renk is the primary Express Care provider at Newport Health Center and provides back-up support to the Emergency Department when requested for acuity or high-volume Emergency Department visits.
Smith said this is especially helpful since the Emergency Department is on track to exceed 10,000 patient visits this year.
“Having an Express Care service allows the District to keep emergency beds available for true medical emergencies and provide convenient walkin care to the community at Newport Health Center,” she said.
Express Care is open to anyone, regardless of insurance or if they receive primary care services with Newport Health Center.
Appropriate Express Care visits include back pain, earaches, minor burns, moderate fever, rashes, and other ailments. For more information, see www.newporthospitalandhealth. org/ service/express-care.
Current Express Care hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Dr. Lewis said 16% of Newport Health Center’s patient visits have been through Express Care, so there’s a need.
Smith said the hospital is currently in the process of recruiting another physician assistant for this service. “Once we hire that provider, we should be able to expand hours on Saturdays,” she said.
In other news, the Patient & Family Advisory Council was approved by the board that will offer community engagement opportunities for hospitals to hear from patients.
Adults and high school students are invited to join the advisory council.
“This will provide diverse experiences and opportunities for all Pend Oreille River Valley communities,” Chief Executive Officer Merry-Ann Keane said.
According to their announcement, a volunteer patient or family advisor will be partnering with other patients and family members, health care providers, and staff to communicate patient and family concerns and help with problem solving, with the goal of improving the patient experience.
“The council will improve patient satisfaction and be a springboard for ideas. This will make for a dynamic council,” Keane said.
For more information, visit www.newporthospitalandhealth. org/pfac/.
