The Chicago Creek Clinic

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The Chicago Creek Clinic
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Idaho Springs, CO
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The Chicago Creek Clinic

• Only private doctors office in Clear Creek County
• Population 9,500
• 2 Docs Dr. Sanataguida and Dr. Gonzales

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The Chicago Creek Clinic

• Only urgent care/ER
• Most critical cases sent by ambulance to St.
  Anthonys Hospital
• 30 miles
• 1 case per week

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The Chicago Creek Clinic

• Equipped to handle almost anything besides
  surgery
• Average of 1-2 urgent walk-ins every day

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The Chicago Creek Clinic

• Office equipped with X-ray machine and hearing
  testing station
• In 5 weeks flex sig, vasectomy, chiropractic
  manipulations, joint injections, nerve blocks

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Patient Population

• Occupations
• retired, work from
• home, small
• business owners,
• miners, seasonal
• workers
• Average Age 40-70
• Many are cash pay

http//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/medical_notes/30
4383.stm
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Patient Populations

• Unique problems to the area
• Lung disease stemming from mining
• Altitude complications most patients live above
  8,000 ft. and some above 10,000 ft.
• Drunk Driving Blackhawk is just down the
  street, little public transportation

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Dr. Rik Santaguida

• Owns ranch with horses, goats, chickens etc.
• Level 2 certified work comp
• Small town doc mentality
• North Dakota training
• Minor Major surgery and OB care
• Runs on his own clock

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Community Resources

• Columbine Family Medical Center federal funding,
  sliding scale, accepts Medicaid
• Mental Health Center
• Support Groups AA, Alanon, Childrens support
  group, Clear Creek County Advocates, CHADD,
  Gamblers Anonymous
• Nearest specialists are in Denver

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Ms. Sandy M.

• 69 yo Caucasian female who needed a pre-op
  clearance for cataract surgery had not seen a
  doc for 9 years
• Had stroke 20yrs ago completely recovered
• Smoked for 40 yrs but quit 5 mo ago because she
  had to choose between smoking and feeding her
  birds, squirrels, and skunks

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Ms. Sandy M.

• Lives alone, 2 children, very few community
  contacts
• Feels she has no medical problems except for the
  cataract in her right eye
• Unable to drive safely

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Ms. Sandy M.

• Findings during the pre-op physical and testing
• Severe COPD as seen with PFTs and chest X-ray,
  55 O2 sat w/o oxygen
• Bifascicular block as seen on EKG
• Severe kyphosis with the report she was three
  inches shorter than 1 year ago likely severe
  osteoporosis
• Elevated TGs, and LDL

http//www.priory.com/cmol/diagnosi.htm
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Ms. Sandy M.

• 
  
  http//medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/ecg/mml/ecg_12lead
  016.html
• Needs clearance from cardiologist before cataract
  surgery in 2 weeks cant drive to Denver
• Contacted community senior center in Idaho
  Springs - provided transport

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Ms. Sandy M.

• 3 new chronic diseases COPD, Osteoporosis,
  Hyperlipidemia
• New onset anxiety and depression related to
  coping with a new health condition

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Ms. Sandy M.

• All diseases were explained in detail in a
  follow-up visit still needed community support
• Community Senior Center offered to give her
  nutrition counseling and provide her with healthy
  meals, put her in contact with mental health
  counselor, and introduced her to fellow community
  members with the same chronic health problems

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Ms. Sandy M.

• Just before leaving
• I will try to make it back within the next
  year.