Hazel Dell offices first of three satellite clinics planned around county
By Patty Hastings, Columbian
Social Services, Demographics, Faith
Published: October 8, 2015, 9:17pm
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Blue and white balloons welcome visitors at the new Columbia River Mental Health Services offices during a Thursday open house at the new clinic in Hazel Dell. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)Photo Gallery
Columbia River Mental Health Services has seen more than 100 clients at its new clinic in Hazel Dell — the first of three satellite offices around Clark County. The mental health and chemical dependency provider plans to open offices in Battle Ground and Camas, all part of an effort to reach underserved areas, said CEO Craig Pridemore.
To open the three facilities, Columbia River Mental Health secured a $1.5 million grant from Southwest Washington Behavioral Health.
On Thursday, the agency hosted an open house at the Hazel Dell clinic at 9105 N.E. Highway 99.
Currently, five therapists work out of the second-story, 2,000-square-foot space and began treating patients about a month ago. Soon, the clinic plans to add more staff to be able to prescribe medication.
Based on population, Camas and Battle Ground were also determined to be in need of more local services, Pridemore said. The main office at Northeast Fourth Plain Boulevard and Andresen Road is a central location for Vancouver Medicaid clients, but it’s out of the way for other clients spread across the county.
Mike Schlemeier, a geriatric mental health specialist, said the Hazel Dell location would be convenient for many of his existing clients. “There are a lot of seniors in the Hazel Dell area,” he said.
Most clients are on Medicaid, but Columbia River Mental Health serves anyone who walks through the door, Pridemore said. The nonprofit treats the spectrum of mental health and does training on building skills, such as interpersonal effectiveness, coping and being more assertive.
The Battle Ground clinic will be about the same size and share a space with Rose Medical Group, so care providers can coordinate primary care with mental health or chemical dependency services. Columbia River is figuring out a similar arrangement for the Camas location. Physical problems coincide with mental illness and drug addiction, said Dr. Erica Hunt, Columbia River’s chief clinical officer.
‘Tried-and-true model’
Care integration has been nationally talked about for a while and other states have already made the transition toward fully integrated care. Southwest Washington is an “early adopter” region in the state, and Columbia River Mental Health is preparing for fully integrated coverage starting in April of 2016.
“It’s a tried-and-true model around the country as a way of reducing health care costs,” Pridemore said.
The rationale behind it is that medical professionals should be working together to accurately diagnose and treat patients. A patient, for instance, may come into a mental health clinic with a traumatic brain injury, which mental health specialists wouldn’t be able to identify, but primary care providers could make that physical diagnosis.
Although Pridemore has only been CEO since December of last year, he’s served in other roles, including the board, and has wanted to open satellite offices for years. He also aims to have Columbia River Mental Health nationally accredited as a mental health provider.
Blue and white balloons welcome visitors at the new Columbia River Mental Health Services offices during a Thursday open house at the new clinic in Hazel Dell. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)
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