Strategic Initiatives Focus on Protecting Patient Care & Financial Stability
News Release
May 25, 2022
Contact: Dan Kramer - Phone: 949.415.8721 - Email: publicrelations@borregohealth.org
BORREGO SPRINGS, CA (May 25, 2022) – Borrego Community Health Foundation (Borrego Health) announced today that it is implementing a series of strategic initiatives to ensure individuals in Riverside and San Diego counties continue to have access to a medical home and safety net for essential health care and social services.
“Without question, the past 18 months have been significantly challenging for Borrego Health. As we work to navigate our financial and legal issues, we are driven forward by our mission to provide primary care to the underserved,” said Edgar Bulloch, M.D., CEO of Borrego Health. “Indeed, our patients in Riverside and San Diego counties need Borrego Health. That’s why we’re doing everything we can to overcome our challenges, even though it means making difficult decisions regarding the size of our workforce and our operational structure.”
To align with industry benchmark data and best practices from other regional Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), these initiatives include changes to Borrego’s administrative and clinical teams. It is important to note that the goal of these changes is to ensure Borrego Health’s continued ability to meet the needs of all patients at current clinic locations. These initiatives do not involve changes to clinic hours or currently scheduled appointments, nor do they involve physicians or Advanced Practice Providers engaged in direct patient care. As these changes take effect over the next 60 days, Borrego Health will be working to ensure patients continue to have access to the care they need.
Operational Changes
In order to increase operational efficiency and direct more resources to patient care, Borrego Health is adjusting its administrative operations and reducing the size of its administrative team based on a review of all Borrego Health administrative departments.
Borrego Health will increase its focus on the patient experience by shifting from a centralized call center to clinic-level customer support. The organization will close its Consolidated Call Center and allocate calls directly to the appropriate clinic for service. The clinic-level support staff will be adjusted to accommodate the increase in clinic call volume.
Based on current patient volumes and provided services, Borrego’s clinic staffing will be reduced to increase care team effectiveness and improve patient care.
Centralized leadership and standardized processes will also be created for patient referrals, care coordinators, facilities management and medical records, as well as an increased focus and staffing in Compliance and Quality.
“We are focused on delivering an excellent patient experience and creating long-term stability within Borrego Health,” said Sandra Hansberger, chair of the Borrego Health Board of Trustees. “This organization exists to serve our patients and these initiatives are focused on furthering that purpose.”
In compliance with the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, Borrego Health team members directly affected by this reduction are receiving 60-days’ notice. There are 218 Borrego Health employees directly affected by the reductions, which will take effect on July 24, 2022. The reductions are expected to be permanent.
Borrego Health recognizes that there is a great deal of stress that comes with this kind of change, and is committed to making these transitions with respect and compassion. Borrego Health is grateful for the contributions of these team members, recognizes their contribution to the health and wellness of the communities they served and will provide transition support following the organization’s current Human Resources policies.
For more information about your care please visit www.borregohealth.org.
About Borrego Health
Borrego Health provides high-quality, comprehensive, compassionate primary health care to the people in our communities, regardless of their ability to pay. We serve these communities and adjoining regions with respect, dignity and cultural sensitivity as a medical home and safety net for essential health care and social services. Borrego Health is a non-profit 501(c)(3) Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and a Federal Tort Claims Act Deemed (FTCA) facility.