Q&A With Shirley Goss of Family Care Clinics
Shirley Goss is the Clinic Nurse Manager at Family Care Clinics of Bates County Hospital. The clinics are located in Adrian and Butler and serve 26,000 patients annually. Shirley has worked in rural health for seven years. She started her career in healthcare as an LPN for 15 years. Then she went back to school and became an RN, graduating from St. Luke's in 1991. She was drawn to work in rural health by the need for quality healthcare in small communities.
Every clinic's work and experiences are unique. We wanted to catch up with Shirley to get more insight into her clinic's operations and why she loves rural health. Take a look at her answers below.
Q: What is your role at your clinic?
A: Everything!!! Payroll, scheduling, billing problems, committee appointments, evaluations, staffing , immunizations, still some wound care. Fill in for nurses as needed. We are in the process of opening another clinic in Rich Hill, MO., and I am doing all the interior design and furnishings as well as staffing for the new clinic. I am also the director for the patient centered health home.
Q: What does your average day at work look like?
A: There is no average day and no two are the same. Some days it seems all I do is carry around a fire extinguisher and put out fires (problems). Other days are completely different. I spend my time rotating to all the clinics so no two days are ever the same.
Q: What is the best part of your job?
A: The patients and the people I work with. We have such a great team at all the clinics and I enjoy spending time at each clinic and knowing all the patients, staff and providers.
Q: In your opinion, what is the most important part of MARHC’s mission?
A: To continue to support rural health and to advocate for our best interests.
Q: What are the greatest challenges facing your clinic and/or all RHCs?
A: I would say the billing challenges with the arrival of ICD 10 and value based purchasing, and bundled group payments are big hurdles that we will all have to work together to get through.
Q: How would you define your clinic’s role in the community?
A: I feel the clinics support the communities a great deal. Most people in our area can’t afford to drive to the city and it is very important and comforting to them to have a clinic and providers so close and readily available.
Q: Which programs or accomplishments are your clinic especially proud of?
A: Of course our Patient Centered Health Home. Also we provide free sports physicals to all the athletes in the county every year. We also offer evening vaccine clinics for children before school starts each year
Do you have an idea for a great clinic or staff member to spotlight? Let us know at info@marhc.org.
