As the debate for healthcare reform continues to rankle those on both sides of the aisle, local officials brought the issue home to Camarillo last week during a discussion about the state of healthcare in Ventura County.

Michael Powers, director of the county’s Health Care Agency, told an early morning audience at Sterling Hills Golf Club Sept. 11 that despite budget cuts, the agency was still able to provide $400 million in services last year to about 1.4 million patients.

“Care in our system is top quality,” Powers said.

The agency operates 19 medical clinics, 13 mental health clinics, five public health centers, several drunk driver programs and the Santa Paula Hospital and Ventura County Medical Center in Ventura.

The agency’s communitybased care—healthcare that is available at clinics in communities throughout the county—saves both lives and money because it emphasizes preventive care and routine checkups, Powers said.

Community care saves money because patients receive treatment for chronic illnesses ahead of time instead of waiting until their medical conditions worsen and are forced to seek emergency room attention, which becomes costly for hospitals.

The Access Coverage and Enrollment program, launched in 2007, supports the agency’s community-based approach to care. The Access program was launched in September 2007.

Ventura County’s proactive approach to preventative healthcare helped it become one of only 10 counties in the state to receive certain federal funds given to innovative providers. Thirty counties applied, Powers said.

Using Access coverage, families ineligible for regular health insurance receive dental and other ongoing medical services that include doctor visits, immunizations, prescription medication, hospitalization and X-ray and lab tests for a small fee.

More than 12,000 people have been served by the program. It covers more than 9,000 patients including 500 in Camarillo, Powers said.

About 60 percent receive treatment for one or more chronic conditions, he said.

Earlier this year, however, the agency stopped accepting applications because funds were exhausted. More demand, less money

The number of people who use the county healthcare agency is climbing.

Powers said that two years ago nearly 340,000 patients were treated. This year, that number has risen to 450,000.

In December, the agency opened a clinic in Camarillo, home to 8,000 uninsured people and 4,000 Medi-Cal patients.

In one recent week, four people who had lost their private insurance while in the middle of chemotherapy treatment sought medical services through the agency, Powers said.

Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long said county healthcare services are a “safety net” for the uninsured and underinsured. The percentage of uninsured treated at agency facilities rose from 16 percent in 2007 to 25 percent this year, Long said.

The national average for similar treatment is about 33 percent, she said.

But the agency is feeling the economic squeeze. According to Powers, it lost $14 million in state funding this year.

The funding challenges come at a time when demand for services is up due to the rising cost of private healthcare.

To manage its reduced budget and increased work load, the agency is working on time- and cost-saving strategies.

For example, about half of all patient records have been put into electronic form and the time patients spend in clinics has been reduced from 70 minutes to 30 minutes. Clinic and hospital physicians and staff also have made a commitment to maintain quality care and spend the county’s money frugally, Powers said.

The Health Care Agency operates on an annual budget of $450 million—only 7 percent of the county’s general fund expenses, which is the lowest percentage in the state, Powers said. Fulfilling its mission

Budget problems aside, the agency has a mission to fulfill. It seeks to provide quality, costeffective health care for everyone, especially the most vulnerable.

In early 2008, the agency put a mobile mammography unit into service to reach women across the county, particularly those who are aren’t easily able to visit a hospital.

In addition, pediatric oncology services are now available so families don’t have to travel outside Ventura County for such specialties.

The agency also wants to consolidate multiple health services under one roof. It is working toward bringing mental health, drug and alcohol and public health services to primary care clinics throughout the county.

To address the threat of swine flu that is expected hit the county with more punch this fall and winter, the county’s Public Health Department is educating schools, businesses and individuals about the symptoms of he disease and how to prevent its onslaught. When swine flu vaccine becomes available—likely by late October—the health agency will distribute it to public and private health providers, Powers said.

The agency’s five public health centers must also be prepared for the other seasonal flus that kill nearly 36,000 Americans each year, he said.

Powers says the agency’s strength comes from the medical professionals who make up its staff.

“The people here are so compassionate and so skilled, they could work anywhere . . . but they choose to work here,” he said. “They care about what they do and the people they care for.”