FVCC opens student health clinic

The new student health clinic at Flathead Valley Community College is up, running and ready for students.

Services at the clinic, part of the Rebecca Chaney Broussard Center for Nursing and Health Science that opened earlier this year, will be free to full-time students at FVCC.

Students taking more than seven credits pay a mandatory $45-per-semester fee for the clinic.

“Those taking between four and six credits can opt in,” Vice President for Administration Chuck Jensen said. “We are the first community college in Montana to open a health clinic for our students.”

Online students and those at the Libby campus also can opt in and use the clinic whenever they are in Kalispell.

With the fees collected from more than 1,500 students this semester, as well as an anonymous $250,000 gift that will pay out $50,000 a year for the next five years, the clinic isn’t hurting for money.

“We anticipate this to be a self-sufficient operation,” Jensen said. “The clinic will be self-supporting.”

The clinic is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

Minor injuries, such as small lacerations, can easily be treated at the clinic. With three examination rooms, the medical staff is ready for small rushes as well.

Physician assistant Shelley Niomi said the clinic was well-stocked but has its limitations.

“If you’re beyond what we’re comfortable, we’re sending you to KRMC or the emergency room,” Niomi said

The clinic can treat cuts, sprains, colds, flu and can evaluate sexually transmitted infections — including HIV testing. This provides a much-lacking resource for often-uninsured students.

Niomi moved to the Flathead Valley in June after spending time at an urgent care facility in Cheyenne, Wyo. She is in charge of the clinic when Dr. Mona Cuthbert isn’t around.

Niomi’s assistant, Kathy Weller, spent several years at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in orthopedics. She said she believes a need is being met with the new clinic.

“We’ve seen several students over the age of 50,” Weller said. “Uninsured students, which is cool.”

By its fifth day open, the clinic had seen nearly 10 students, all of whom were uninsured. They were greeted in the clean, well-lit waiting room by administrative assistant Celeste Pace.

“I do anticipate more students coming in when they are made more aware,” Weller said.

Jensen said the clinic was sort of an experiment so the opening was taken slowly.

“We had a soft opening, like a restaurant,” he said. “So we had to work out the bugs.”

After the welcome week, the medical staffers wanted to tell students about the clinic, and as flu season approaches, they expect to see more traffic.

“We anticipate we’re going to be busy,” Weller said. “It’s like a way of giving back.”

The clinic was always in mind when the Broussard Center was designed.

“It’s a topic that’s been on our mind for a number of years,” Jensen said. “It was part of the original concept. It was just a perfect time to open.”

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.