BY JIM MIMIAGA

Kids get sick and sometimes will require immediate care, but because of a lack of family physicians in Montezuma County, getting an appointment quickly can be a tough task for parents.

A lack of family doctors, general surgeons, and specialists such as in obstetrics and pediatrics has prompted Southwest Memorial management to commit $200,000 over the next year for recruitment purposes, the Montezuma County Hospital District board learned last week.

Currently there are nine family doctors in the county and not one pediatrician, a doctor that specializes in children’s care. Family physicians are caring for children’s needs the best they can, but as the population grows many families say there is ample room for more primary-care doctors, according to a recent community survey. Forty percent said more family doctors were needed, and of those, seven percent wanted a pediatrician.

Too often families with sick children have difficulty getting an appointment within 24 hours, and when they don’t they are forced to go elsewhere for care, said several members of the MCHD board during a discussion with hospital officials. The lack of service is inconvenient, and hurts financially too.

"We’re losing customers to Durango and Farmington because there is not enough family docs here," said Bob Peterson, CEO of Southwest’s operations. "Our district’s population could support three pediatricians, and right now we have none, so recruitment is a top priority."

While adults can usually wait a day or two for an appointment, a child with the coup or some painful infection cannot always do so without worsening the condition. New parents especially need that peace of mind, said MCHD Chairman Randy Smith.

"As a board we need to work toward obtaining a pediatrician here. People expect to be seen within 24 hours, and this isn’t always happening," Smith said.

The other option is admission into the emergency room, which is very expensive, especially when all that is required is a simple prescription for antibiotics.

"That is a terrible alternative, and it drives up costs for everyone," said Director Rick Beisel. "This is not just a hospital issue, it is a community one."

Attracting a pediatrician to relocate in Cortez is a formidable challenge, Peterson said. The specialty does not always pay as well, and because there is not one here already recruitment is difficult, since most physicians want to partner up in order to share costs and patient load.