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Frontier Medical Group reports 131 patient encounters in August; board and public raise transport and vaccine access concerns
Summary
Frontier Medical Group reported 131 patient encounters for August, detailed payroll and revenue figures, described staffing efforts and telemedicine visits, and discussed challenges with nonemergency patient transport and flu vaccine timing in Tonopah.
The Northern Nye County Hospital District heard a presentation from Frontier Medical Group on clinic operations, patient volumes and staffing efforts. Dr. Coker, Frontier’s on-site provider, reported 131 patient encounters for August and described staffing, revenue and operational details.
Dr. Coker said the clinic recorded 131 patient encounters in August and collected $8,552.98 during that reporting period. He reported total payroll expenses of $37,021.70, which he described as split between employee payroll ($9,921.70) and provider payroll including medical directorship ($27,100). He also said the clinic logged roughly $2,100 in telemedicine visits during days a provider was not on site.
Dr. Coker said he has begun covering the clinic on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with “Al” present on Thursdays; he said he hopes to add a Friday provider once the district’s contracting and recruiting are settled. He told trustees he has had conversations with three prospective providers — two physicians and a physician assistant — who expressed interest but were waiting for a longer (one-year) contract before committing.
Trustee Don and health staff asked about flu-shot availability. Dr. Coker said vaccine shipments may arrive in October and that a firm answer could be provided in the coming days; a county health staff member confirmed that vaccine would not be available before October at the earliest and that November would be a realistic target for community clinics.
Board members and public commenters raised access-to-care concerns tied to transport. Speakers noted that REMSA/ambulance services do not provide routine nonemergency transports for scheduled appointments, and that when ambulances are on emergency calls there are few local options. A public commenter and trustees described fuel-card programs and other limited assistance options; Dr. Coker said he planned to raise transport and clinic-support issues during a planned meeting with Governor Joe Lombardo on Nov. 7 and to report back to the board.
The presentation also included patient-survey results distributed to trustees; Trustee Nancy said she read many favorable responses and that most patient feedback was positive, with a small number noting wait-time concerns.
No formal action was taken on the clinic report. Trustees encouraged Dr. Coker to coordinate with emergency responders and ambulance coordinators (listed in the meeting as Stephanie Ottoson and Don Sligard) to identify transport options and to continue recruitment and outreach to sustain clinic staffing and services.
