Dirne eyes new home
<p>SHAWN GUST/Press Samantha Cline, medical assistant for Dirne Community Health Centers, checks the blood pressure of Hayden resident Rick Grise Tuesday during an office visit. The clinic is planning on consolidating its two Coeur d'Alene locations into one office in January 2012.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - For years, thousands of Dirne Community Health Center clients have come to 1106 W. Ironwood for medical needs, and then set off to 1800 Lincoln Way suite 202 for counseling services.
Come January, two trips will no longer be necessary. Instead, there will be one home for health care.
Dirne officials announced a deal with Parkwood Properties to lease the Group Health building, 1090 W. Park Place Drive. The move will unite the Family Practice and Behavioral Health departments under the same roof.
"This move really compliments our patient centered medical home model of care," said Mike Baker, CEO. "We are providing a medical home for more than 12,000 local residents, and now doing most of it under one roof. We finally have a building that reflects the quality of care that our professional staff provides to our patients. It's very exciting."
Baker said over the past two years demand for services at Dirne has grown more than 50 percent. They are also seeing a rising need for those covered by Medicare and Medicaid, and those families who are uninsured.
Dirne's new home is about 18,000 square feet. It will allow for 19 exam rooms that will ease the flow of patients as well as meet demand for Dirne's services over the coming years. At its current site, Family Practice has 14 exam rooms.
The move will also provide more space for volunteer medical providers.
"There are many willing professionals in the community who want to volunteer, but our current facility does not provide the physical space for these volunteer providers," said Len Crosby, Dirne board chairman. "This move will provide greater opportunities for our partners in the medical community to assist us in meeting the expanding need within our community."
Dirne Dental will remain at 1800 Lincoln Way, where three full-time dentists provide more than 6,000 patient visits annually. But plans ultimately call for combining all three services.
Michael Dixon with the North Idaho Health Network likes Dirne's plan.
"One location will help break down transportation barriers to care," he said.
Organizations like Trinity Group Homes and Family Promise providing services to families and seniors also support it.
"Helping Dirne with this move falls in line with our mission," said Mark Mitchell, pastor at Lake City Community Church.
Dirne will be moving throughout December with plans to open on Jan. 3. No breaks in service are expected.
Crosby said Dirne has been trying to overcome misconceptions that only the uninsured can find a medical home with Dirne.
"We are improving our delivery of health care for those with and without insurance," he said.