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PALOMINAS — A new rural health clinic in the Palominas/Hereford area celebrated its grand opening on Thursday.
The hospital-based facility is one of three rural health clinics belonging to Bisbee-based Copper Queen Community Hospital. With rural health clinics in Bisbee, Douglas and now Palominas, the hospital is striving to provide southern Cochise County with access to primary health care.
Palominas and Hereford residents, along with members of the medical community, packed the 2,900-square-foot building to view the new facility and meet its staff. The clinic accommodates two physicians’ offices and six exam rooms.
  
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Staffed by pediatric nurse practitioner Jean Robidoux, doctor of internal medicine Kathleen Jones and physician’s assistant Kathy Griesemer, patients of all ages will have access to primary medical care without the long drives to Bisbee or Sierra Vista.
In addition to the three medical providers staffing the clinic, two more physicians will be coming in the near future, an internist and another pediatrician.
“This is a federally funded clinic,” said Jim Dickson, Copper Queen Community Hospital’s chief executive officer.
As a rural health clinic, patients with limited financial resources or without health insurance will be able to apply for financial assistance or be billed based on their income level, Dixon said.
“We’ll see patients on a sliding fee scale, bringing health care where you normally wouldn’t find it,” he said.
Medical services will include office visits, immunizations and lab work. The clinic is equipped with electronic medical records, allowing vital patient information to be linked to Copper Queen Community Hospital’s rural health clinics in Bisbee and Douglas, as well as the hospital itself.
Gary Dillard, the hospital’s board president, urged residents to consider using the clinic’s services, something he said will allow the clinic to continue to grow and expand.
Jerry Bryant, of US Modular of Phoenix, provided the building, and local contractor Glenn Gerhardt of Gerhardt Construction Co. oversaw most of the site work for the facility.
While a modular building, the structure’s stucco exterior and red tile roof give it an upscale, southwestern look.
People attending the grand opening had positive comments for the facility.
Hereford resident Richard Crane said he was impressed with the clinic and expected to use it for some of his health care needs.
“It’s good to know there’s a medical facility out here for us,” he said. “This is a good thing for all of us who live out here.”
Gerhardt thought the clinic made a nice addition to the Palominas community.
“This is a great way for a small hospital to serve all its constituents,” said Ruth Kish, director of patient care services at Copper Queen Community Hospital.
The hospital, Kish added, has effectively expanded its service area to some of the rural regions of the county through the hospital-based rural health clinics.
Herald/Review reporter Dana Cole can be reached at 515-4618 or by e-mail at dana.cole@svherald.com.
John Wilcox wrote on Oct 12, 2007 9:24 PM: