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Hackensack preps for new clinic
Cass County Correspondent HACKENSACK - St. Joseph's Medical Center of Brainerd will provide medical and administrative services for a new community clinic scheduled to open Oct. 1 at the Hackensack Senior Class Assisted Living building.
Seven years ago, Hackensack Trailblazers hosted a meeting at the community center to learn what area residents thought was the community's greatest need. The overwhelming answer was medical services.
Hackensack area residents formed Pines Area Medical Development Association as a nonprofit 501(c)3 IRS tax-exempt organization in 2007 to raise money to bring a clinic to the city. PAMDA currently needs to raise $500,000 in donations to help support the new clinic.
Most Minnesota clinics do not make a profit, according to Dawn Peterson, PAMDA president. PAMDA will repay a $200,000 startup loan at zero percent interest to Crow Wing Power over the next 10 years.
Donations PAMDA receives also will help St. Joseph's cover some operating expenses that insurance and Medicare/Medicaid payments for clinical services do not cover, Peterson said. This will include rent the clinic will pay to use 3,000 square feet in the Hackensack Senior Class building. There is a 10-year lease.
St. Joseph's has engaged a nurse practitioner to begin work Oct. 1 and expects to hire a doctor specifically for the Hackensack clinic. Peterson said two candidates are currently being interviewed. Doctors also may rotate there from their St. Joseph's clinics in Crosslake, Pine River, Pequot Lakes and Pierz.
Hackensack clinic will hire a receptionist and a lab technician. Area residents may have blood tests taken at the new clinic and have results relayed to their doctor at any area clinic or hospital, Peterson said. The Hackensack clinic will include a waiting area, reception area, four examination rooms, an X-ray room and a lab.
The Hackensack area population is 1,824 in the winter, but increases to 2,278 in the summer, not counting tourist visitors. Until the clinic opens, people seeking medical attention must travel a minimum of 15 miles to Walker or Pine River clinics or about 50 miles to hospitals at Brainerd, Bemidji or Crosby. The closest hospital is 36 miles away at Park Rapids.
Though the area continues to grow, St. Joseph's has estimated that the additional $500,000 will be needed to equip the clinic and allow it to operate cost effectively during the first 10 years of operation.
Heading PAMDA in addition to Peterson are Todd Josephson, vice-president; Jim Sandelin, treasurer; and Michael Small, secretary.
Pledges for up to three years or check donations may be mailed to PAMDA, P.O. Box 460, Hackensack, MN 56452 or may be dropped off at First National Bank of Walker, Hackensack branch. Note if you wish to receive a receipt.
A family picnic fundraiser is scheduled for August. Peterson asked that anyone who wishes to volunteer for fundraising or wants to donate to PAMDA call her at (218) 682-6111 or Josephson at First National Bank, Hackensack branch, at (218) 675-6969.
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