Officials at McPherson Center for Health announce that the Rural Health Clinic (RHC), also known as McPherson Medical and Surgical Associates, recently completed a successful survey from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with zero deficiencies. The purpose of the survey was to ensure that the clinic is operating appropriately under CMS guidelines.
Surveyors visited the clinics in the Medical Office Building on January 23 and 24. This is the first on-site survey since the clinic received the Rural Health Clinic designation in 2019. One of about 4,500 RHC’s nationwide, the clinic is recognized as providing primary care and preventive health services in a designated underserved rural area.
With zero reportable deficiencies from surveyors, the clinic was noted for functioning within guidelines with regard to staffing, processes, safety, patient satisfaction, and other key operational areas.
The surveyors interviewed staff and even some patients who commented on the outstanding care they receive in the clinic. One patient said they’ve been coming here for years and “would not go anywhere else.”
Clinic leadership, including Carol Fickes, director of clinics, and Dustie Samuels, D.O., medical director of the clinics, indicated that good preparation for the survey was a team effort.
Fickes said, “Our team’s hard work and dedication in preparing resulted in a successful survey. This is a wonderful recognition and reflects the amazing team we have working to serve our community.”
“This Rural Health Clinic designation benefits our community members by improving access to primary care,” said Dr. Dustie Samuels. “Healthcare has faced difficulty recruiting physicians to rural communities nationwide. Under the RHC designation, communities combat that by utilizing mid-level providers along with physicians in a team based approach to improve access to local healthcare for all.”
CEO Lew Newberry commented, “This outstanding validation from state surveyors reflects the level of leadership and care available in our clinics. With fairly recent changes in leadership under Carol Fickes and Dr. Samuels, and having moved our very busy walk-in clinic to our facility on campus, our physicians, providers and staff are fully engaged in what it means to be a rural health clinic serving our community.”
Clinic officials say this latest survey is valid for three years.