FSU College of Medicine 2018 annual report 2019 Annual Report | Page 35

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RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY NEEDS
Starting a new health-care center from scratch is never
Manor, Seminole Manor, and Meadows neighborhoods. It
easy, especially one that welcomes patients from every already has formed medical and educational partnerships
socioeconomic background. with those communities. However, the health care is
FSU PrimaryHealth launched in May and by Dec. 31
available to anyone in the area – and accepts most insurance.
had more than 4,000 patients. Thousands of people who
“We’ve had a lot of people come from the Gulf Coast and
previously had no medical home now have one. By summer Panhandle,” said Sherri Swilley, director of clinical operations
2020, six FSU clinicians are expected to be seeing patients for the college’s Florida Medical Practice Plan. “We’ve had
on any given day. people from all around. I think that speaks to the shortage of
There’ve been surprises and challenges along the way. For
primary care in the Tallahassee area. It says that we were much
example, the demand for accessible primary care produced needed here, and people are very thankful that they have an
many more phone calls than the initial staffing could option. Sometimes they’re on a managed Medicare plan or a
accommodate. The big story, though, is that a once medically Medicaid plan, and a lot of doctors aren’t accepting those plans. It
underserved corner of Leon County now has access to care – makes it really hard for those people to get the care they need.”
and is healthier for it.
Swilley has heard countless patients express gratitude for
What’s more, FSU M.D. and PA students now have a real-
world setting to observe and participate on a medical team
the health care they’re receiving from FSU.
“I had one young single mom with three kids,” recalled
involving nurses, PAs, M.D.s, social workers, behavioral Swilley, who served as interim practice manager for the
therapists and more. center’s first seven months. “She just could not express how
“Care for the underserved is a cornerstone of our mission
thankful she was that her doctor listens better than anybody
at the FSU College of Medicine, and this is our opportunity has ever listened to her. She was just overjoyed with how
to practice what we teach,” said Daniel Van Durme, senior much she felt cared for.”
associate dean for clinical and community affairs, as well
Van Durme said the center has provided a valuable
as medical director at FSU PrimaryHealth. “We have truly experience for the faculty members who see patients there.
integrated behavioral health and primary care into a team- “It adds essential credibility to our teaching back at the
based model. There are many aspects that make this a 21 - College of Medicine when we can draw from patient care
century, cutting-edge, primary care facility.” that just happened,” he said. “It helps the students to better
st
The brand-new center sits at Eisenhower Street and
Roberts Avenue, in the heart of the Providence, Mabry
appreciate the relevance of what is being taught.”