County nurse practitioner: Wilson County Clinic visits rising; staff propose extra provider during peak illness season

Caitlin Parnell, a nurse practitioner who works at the Wilson County Clinic, told the committee the clinic has seen increased use over the past two years and that appointment slots now commonly fill by the end of the day. Parnell said the clinic’s schedule now gives 30‑minute appointments, which allows more time per patient than a typical 20‑minute slot and has helped the clinic accommodate more follow‑ups and procedures in‑house.

Family Medical staff reported the clinic averages about 350 to 400 patient visits per month, with seasonal peaks in October through January. Staff described a process for tracking visits and said overflow patients may be scheduled with Family Medical when county clinic slots are full. Physicians rotate through the clinic on a monthly basis to provide additional coverage.

Speakers suggested adding an extra provider or extra provider days during the heavy ‘‘sick season’’ (when flu, COVID and other respiratory illnesses spike) to reduce referrals to higher‑cost walk‑in clinics. Family Medical said running additional provider days in peak months would likely still be less expensive than sending patients to outside walk‑ins and offered to prepare a proposal that includes supply and pass‑through costs.

Speaker 2 also raised a separate idea — allowing county commissioners to access the clinic as a benefit — and the chair noted Commissioner Jared Berenity had brought the idea up for the record. Staff said practical issues (ID, eligibility, family access, and insurance implications) would need study before any access change.

Next steps: staff offered to provide comparative utilization and cost data (for example, a three‑month comparison) and to draft a proposal for additional provider days during peak illness season for committee consideration.