HomeMy WebLinkAbout042823 Glaring lack of access to necessary medical and behavioral care________________________________
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Dear Commissioners,
Today I received a call from a nurse at DBH asking me to continue to prescribe to a patient I've been seeing for over 15 years. Their provider was not available until June sometime
to prescribe. I had stopped prescribing because I recognized that the patient was unlikely to get the help medically necessary unless a crisis occurred. Over the past month indeed
crises have unfolded with several arrests, times in jail, and involvement of CPS. I was truly scared for the safety of his health and that of his 6 year old son as were his family
members. Police were unable to do anything because they didn't see any direct evidence of him being a direct harm to himself or others. I was relieved to hear that the patient, who
was encouraged by me and others to go to DBH for indicated mental health concerns, had finally made an appointment. Indeed, I had previously personally walked his medical records over
to them to make the point of the urgency of them providing indicated medical and behavioral care that was no longer tenable or appropriate for my clinical setting. As is, his appointment
to be seen was about a month off. This was a challenging professional call given our long time therapeutic relationship and my deep concern for their well-being.
In short, no one is winning from what I consider a highly dysfunctional healthcare system. From a dollar standpoint alone, not to speak of health outcomes, I expect we can all
agree it makes no sense. Well over 10 years ago I made a presentation to the DBH board with commissioners and the sheriff present. They thanked me for the presentation and I learned
of my naivete for they were all well aware of the deficiencies/dysfunction. The chairman concluded by asking me if I could help them. While the enormities of the system problems and
inequities remain, and most are entirely out of any one individual's control, I do think it is possible to assure that the type of patient I am speaking of, who has both Medicare
and secondary state insurance could be seen and care initiated promptly if not urgently. At the very least, I suggest some local accountability for the lack of ready access to necessary
and arguably life threatening concerns. I am open to discussing and problem solving to make this very small incremental step for our community/county. I believe you as our county
commissioners are the responsible public officials, and please correct me if I am mistaken for I would be happy to send this email onwards. I believe there is widespread political
support to assure adequate and timely care for those with serious mental illnesses including some SUDs and I am confident that funding for the same can be found.
Sincerely,
J. Kimber Rotchford, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P.M., F.A.S.A.M.
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Olympas Medical Services, LLC dba OPAS
James K. Rotchford, M.D., M.P.H. Medical Director
LOCATION:
800 W Park Avenue, #4
Port Townsend, WA 98368
MAIL ADDRESS
2023 E Sims Way #282
Port Townsend, WA 98368
360-385-4843 Phone
360-379-1441 Fax