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KOMO TV story on Dr. Holm clinic closing
“He’s had carotid artery surgery, open heart surgery, back surgery. His toes are all missing on one foot,” said June Jones.
Dr. John Holm is Mel’s doctor, and the doctor for 4,000 others. He’s the only doctor in Ocean Shores. But it’s been a long time since he got a paycheck.
“From this clinic…about 17 months,” he said.
No paycheck for more than a year. How has he lived?
“Well, I moonlight. I cover emergency rooms,” said Holm.
The problem: Medicare and Medicaid don’t pay enough to cover clinic expenses and malpractice insurance.
Holm has loaned the clinic $290,000. He took out a $200,000 mortgage on his house to keep food on the table. But it still isn’t enough.
Come Sept. 30 the examining table will be idle. And the blood pressure here will be zero. And Dr. Holm will go.
“Once you get to know these people and you take care of them, it’s very hard,” he said.
Lola Weiss, who heads the group Friends of the Clinic, says locals are working to find at least a part-time replacement for their beloved doctor.
“I will get a doctor, make no mistake. I will keep going until I get a doctor,” she said.
Their efforts are heart-rending for Holm to watch.
“They’ve had bake sales and car washes. When you get people 78 and sometimes older, holding car washes trying to make money and keep a clinic open….” he said, trailing off.
On Tuesday the doctor made calls, trying to find someone for his patients. He knows what’s at stake. So do his patients.
“I’m going to die,” said Melvin Jones.
Holm says he’ll somehow find the help Mel and the others need. And clinic supporters say they’ll keep looking for a doctor.
Clinic supporters are also on the lookout for someone to write a grant to help them pay for a new and fully-equipped medical center. Anyone willing to help can call (360) 580-2780.
My wife is a medical professional on the management side so she knows what things cost. She says that Medicare and Medicaid pay about one third of what a procedure is worth. I mentioned this story to her and she was not surprised.
I don’t know if you folks get it or not BUT the new health care “reform” that President Obama and the Democrat Congress is pushing is based on Medicare/Medicaid numbers AND they say that there are more “savings” to be had in the system. Where is the savings going to come from?
I see, thanks for clairifying, AlwaysWatching.
For many, getting to Aberdeen is not that easy. In winter it can be a challenging drive. Many that need to regulate blood chemistry and are on blood thinners, daily and weekly management can be necessary. That alone is enough to keep a physician in town. What we need here is a clinic that is an Urgent Care facility with a paid salary physician with a PA. We also need to get a rotation of visiting professions so the clinic can service different needs. Cardiac, Ortho, Internal Med., Neuro, etc. Then with the same staff to do appointments, patient prep, and billing one can better utilize the facility. Something similar to the East Grays Harbor Community Hospital Campus.
Again, being new here I find myself a little confused.
I’ve worked in medical billing, so I can sympathize with the fact that Medicare and Medicade don’t pay the full amounts billed.
I don’t know Melvin and June, but please someone tell me why will Melvin die without a doctor in Ocean Shores? There is a clinic and a hospital in Aberdeen and we have emergency personal here in Ocean Shores. I’m not asking in a cynical manor ~ I really want to know because I want to know if I should be concerned for my family, or if there is a way to help him.