Fargo Cass Public Health Opens New Doors for Less Patients

Fargo Cass Public Health has a new facility, but has seen less patients walk through the door.

The organization has seen a decline in the demand for clinical services.

Officials at Fargo Cass Public Health say they are simply just a safety net to help those who have no other option for healthcare.

Access to more support programs when it comes to healthcare is a major reason to why they are seeing fewer patients.
 
The new Fargo Cass Public Health building has allowed the organization to house all its services under one roof.

This includes WIC, Environmental Health and Clinical Services.
 
“Offices that were meant for one person that had too many people. We had many offices like that and so people were kind of on top of each other in their work places. Here they have dedicated work areas,” says Ruth Bachmeier, Director of Fargo Cass Public Health.
 
The new building has provided a convenient one stop shop for community members, but the move wasn’t a result in a demand for clinical services.
 
Fargo Cass Public Health says it has seen a decline in clinical services like immunizations in the last five to seven years.
 
The clinic says programs like the Affordable Care Act and places like Walmart that now provide health services is why there has been decline, but they say that it is not a bad thing.
 
“Again, its access and we want to increase flu shots as much as we can. That doesn’t just mean us giving those flu shots. It’s our entire community,” says Bachmeier.
 
Mayor Tim Mahoney says needs and demands for healthcare continue to change.

The space provides the flexibility to adapt.
 
“The mission of the public service sometimes changes depending on the grants from the federal government so we have invested so we can move around that,” said Mahoney.
 
When, and if the demand changes, the center will be ready.
 
“We were really thoughtful so today it’s an exam room, but tomorrow maybe it can be converted to an office if that’s what the need is,” says Bachmeier.

Bachmeier says as the metro keeps growing, the new facility will help them be prepared for years to come.