[Editor's Note: This is the third of a multi-part series of articles on the Grant County Commission work session of March 19, 2019, along with a presentation made at the regular meeting on March 21, 2019.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

The next two presentations at the Grant County Commission work session on March 19, 2019, featured Hidalgo Medical Services Chief Executive Officer Dan Otero and the annual presentation from the High Desert Humane Society by Heidi Ogas. Also reported here will be a presentation made at the regular session by Autumn Bruton of Amplified Therapy Inc.

Otero said Tu Casa, the drug treatment center managed by HMS, opened in October and is open 10 hours a day, five days a week. "We are still working to transition to a 24-hour facility. Several of our licenses are in place – the pharmacy license, the controlled substance license, the federal DVA and the environmental license to provide food to patients are all in place. We have submitted our triage center license application and that one is still pending. We are planning to provide more clinical services in the Mining District. We have made request for a CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) license for our mobile unit. We will have a modular building on a permanent site. We have had minimal decreases in our service population during the transition. They are coming to our Silver City facility. We announced a couple of months ago that we joined with six other federally-qualified organizations in an LLC to form an integrated network across the state. We are pulling data into the network and negotiating Medicaid contracts to improve the quality of care while reducing the cost of care. Phase 2 is long-term, but we want to expand this network in our community, hopefully to partner with the hospital and other local community physicians. That's probably two years out, but we're working on it. In regard to clinical quality, we've had a 15.5 percent improvement across 15 clinical measures. We exceeded 11 other facilities across the state."

On Senior Services, Otero said HMS is partnering with the county. "Up to 342 are being served by us. Last year, we served 34,000 meals, and have increased to 37,000. We are touching more seniors."

He noted that a bill passed to increase the minimum wage, which would have an impact on those working at the senior centers. "Rep. (Rebecca) Dow has worked hard to get us funding for that increase, but we don't have it yet. For us it will be a $45,000 impact in January 2020. Dow did give $20,000 to the Grant County senior centers."

"It's match season for newly graduated medical professionals looking for residency programs," Otero said. "We had 800 applicants to fill two positions. We went through them all and chose two"—a man from Barbados and a woman from Nashville, Tenn. They will begin their residencies on July 1.

He said HMS has hired a registered dietician to provide dietary and diabetes education. She is working on her certification but will come on board April 12.

"We also made an offer to a family medicine physician who has obstetric skills," Otero said.

The new HMS facility on Hudson Street – the Bridges to Care is serving 120 clients who are Medicaid recipients. The Wellness Program also has an additional 12 clients. "Some of these are people with addictions, mental health and/or chronic health issues who qualify for the care coordination model. We had a client who had had a minimum average of three admissions to Gila Regional every year for mental health issues. Since last September, he has gone to Gila Regional zero times. We started him on a wellness plan, and he completed 11 weeks of a program designed for him. The individual, his family and the therapist all say there has been a dramatic change in his quality of life."

Otero said HMS said Care Links and Bridges to Care have been invited as one of two New Mexico entities to be part of the New Mexico Psychology Education Consortium. "Later this year, two post-doctoral psychologists will complete a one-year internship with HMS while providing services to our clients. About 30 percent of those who have an internship or residency here stay in our community. We were invited last week by the Rand Corp. to apply as a sub-recipient of a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to participate in a large grant along with Tu Casa, our behavioral health services, Care Links and Bridges to Care."

Commission Chairman Chris Ponce asked about any increases in services to senior citizens.

Otero said a Community Investment Fund grant from Freeport allowed HMS to do a study that will be reported in August. "It will show gaps in senior services and we can determine how to address them."

Heidi Ogas of the High Desert Humane Society presented the annual report on the intake of dogs and cats into the shelter.

For 2018, the number of dogs that came into the shelter numbered a total of 451. Of those, 141 were impounds, 140 strays, 170 owner-turn-in and 91 returned to owner. Cats totaled 323, 19 impounds, 163 strays, 141owner-turn-in and zero returned to owner. The numbers of dogs and cats brought into the shelter has decreased over the years, with the higher numbers in 2011, with close to 800 dogs and close to 500 cats in the shelter that year. The low for dogs was about 400 in 2015 and the low for cats was about 230 in 2016.

"In the yearly comparison, intake of both dogs and cats has stabilized," Ogas said.

She reported 393 dogs were adopted and 145 cats were adopted in 2018. Ogas also reported that call outs had decreased a bit.

She said the Our Paws Cause Thrift Shop has moved to the old Western Stationers building. The proceeds of their sales provided 891 spay and neuter assistance coupons. "The thrift shop is going really well. They totally support our spay-and-neuter program.

"We house animals for the county," Ogas said. "Most come from the county, but we also house animals from Silver City and occasionally from other municipalities. We do exchanges with Deming and take animals in from Lordsburg, too."

img 0032Commissioners presented a proclamation of April being Autism Awareness Month  to Autumn Bruton of Amplified Therapy Inc..

Another presentation was given at the regular session on Thursday. Autumn Bruton, owner of Amplified Therapy Inc., gave an overview of the agency's early intervention services provided under the Family Infant and Toddler program. Amplified Therapy serves children from birth to 3 years of age that have or are at risk of developmental delays or disabilities.

She said the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act provides a statewide blueprint for different agencies to administer. "We have a referral process and an intake process. The children receive 10 hours of work a week from professionals. The family is given a comprehensive report."

The state mandates a plan for those who are eligible, and every family has a coordinator or manager for the case.

Amplified Therapy makes use of assistive technology and provides many services to the families impacted.

"This program is amazing," she said. "We felt this was where the gaps were. Who are we as a company? We are family-owned and all of us graduated from Cliff High School, except for my dad who went to Cobre schools. I have had 19 years in providing therapy to those with disabilities. I felt I had the experience. I felt passionately that we could make a difference. My dad helped us with payroll for the first two months. Our vision is that we want to be the premier pediatric provider in the area. Even those who live in rural areas deserve care. We are operating in 10 schools, offering services in Catron, Grant, Luna and Hidalgo counties. Our future plan is to have a pediatric clinic. The state takes data and formulates the program. We want to exceed the standards and benchmarks. We had nine years of data before we became a provider. We do not believe we should ever not meet the benchmarks. We serve 250 kids across the four counties right now. We completed our first year having served 472 kids. In our satisfaction surveys we are given 4s and 5s, with five being the best. Catron County usually has had no kids getting services. We have served 21 so far. We are doing our best to make a difference, although we have a way to go yet. We have a number of contractors. We are trying to have a variety of staff to offer a choice to parents. We offer our contractors flexible work schedules. We want to be the place where people want to work. Seventy-one of our contractors have at least a college degree. We also help people go to school to get their degree. We have four office locations, with our corporate headquarters in Cliff."

Commissioner Harry Browne said it was hard for him to understand the benchmarks for the family service plans. "I presume there is some percentage of children who need the services. Our goal at Aldo Leopold Charter School is to reduce the percentage of people who need the services."

Bruton said the purpose of part C of FIT is to get them early, so "we can provide the services in order that when they get to school, they don't need as many services. Identifying them early reduces the burden on the schools."

Brown said: "Especially in rural areas, we have to do all we can to collaborate, including Beginning Years at the hospital Are they collaborating?"

"Absolutely," Bruton replied. "When they are in the homes, they may recognize issues and they refer them to us, and we may refer some to their program for home care. I think having the new Early Childhood Department may help."

Commissioner Javier Salas said he has seen the effectiveness of the program. "I think you bring fantastic outcomes. It's much better to make it so the child can function."

Commissioner Alicia Edwards said she has been working with family and kids and has seen the needs. "My concern is about prenatal care. Do you anticipate that a conversation will take place with the Early Childhood Department?"

"I think so," Bruton said. "Coordination of care will make a difference. As a FIT program, we have no access to offer prenatal care. New Mexico has an at-risk category. It covers what the children are exposed to at home. It can include substance abuse, poverty and abuse or neglect."

Commissioner Billy Billings thanked Bruton for her services. "I have two grandsons who have received services. They have had success with Amplified Therapy. It has made a great difference in our families. One started school at age level."

Ponce commended Bruton for "what you're doing. I'm happy to hear about the cooperation with other entities."

The next articles will address the public hearings at the regular session and will cover elected officials' reports, discussions from the work session and decisions made at the regular meeting, as well as a proclamation and recognition.

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