The Colorado Rural Health Center celebrated Safety Net Clinic Week with a luncheon honoring Basin Clinic in Naturita, recognizing the facility's dedication to serving rural Montrose County. The event brought together clinic staff, community members, and local leaders to celebrate the clinic's recent recognition as a CRHC Top 10 Rural Healthcare Facility for Overall Performance. Governor Jared Polis signed a proclamation declaring August 17-23, 2025 as Safety Net Clinic Week in Colorado, emphasizing that rural primary care safety net clinics make exceptional contributions to the health and well-being of Coloradans. The proclamation, available at https://coruralhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/SNCW-Proclamation.pdf, underscores the vital role these clinics play in the healthcare ecosystem.
CRHC CEO Michelle Mills stressed the importance of safety net clinics, stating they are essential points of access for healthcare services in rural communities across the state. In today's environment especially, the importance of quality care that is accessible to those who are uninsured, underinsured, or insured through public programs cannot be understated. Despite operating without supplemental federal funding, these clinics continue to provide essential services while facing workforce challenges, growing reporting requirements, and changing payment models. Basin Clinic's recognition stems from its outstanding performance, documented in the CRHC's official announcement at https://coruralhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/CRHC-Top-facility-press-release-FINAL.pdf.
Executive Director Christina Pierce expressed gratitude for the honor, noting that the team has been working hard to meet their mission to provide exceptional, compassionate healthcare. Like all clinics, they do the best they can with the limited resources and dedicated team members. The clinic's impact was powerfully illustrated by Basin Clinic Board President Chris Daniels, who shared his personal experience as a patient whose life was saved because Basin is where it is. Daniels emphasized that if he had had to be transported 25 miles away to another town, he would never have survived, a reality for many residents for whom the trip to another town for medical care is not even possible. Daniels praised the entire clinic team for their unified commitment to providing the best healthcare possible.
Safety Net Clinic Week serves to educate policymakers, healthcare advocates, and community leaders about the necessity of maintaining and supporting rural healthcare infrastructure. The annual celebration highlights how these clinics, despite their diverse business models, share a common commitment to serving populations that might otherwise lack access to essential medical services. The recognition of Basin Clinic during this week underscores the critical importance of these facilities in ensuring healthcare access in remote areas where alternatives are limited or non-existent. The event demonstrates how safety net clinics operate as lifelines for rural communities, providing care to vulnerable populations regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. This recognition matters because it brings attention to the ongoing challenges faced by rural healthcare providers while celebrating their essential contributions to community health and well-being.
