Grande Rounds Offers Inside Look at Island Healthcare

On a chilly island morning, residents gathered at the Boca Grande Community Center for the Feb. 24 Grande Rounds program on how the Clinic works — from same-day care to referrals. The program, presented by the Boca Grande Health Clinic and the Boca Grande Health Clinic Foundation in partnership with Friends of Boca Grande, was moderated by Connie Duckworth as an informal fireside chat — fitting for the brisk start to the day.

Clinic CEO Mark Driscoll noted the organization has served the island community since 1947. He emphasized that board-certified physician coverage remains available 24/7, year-round, and that calls to the Clinic are still answered by a person — not an automated system.

Driscoll shared an update on the Clinic of the Future project, reporting the building is ahead of schedule and under budget, with plans to welcome first patients on May 18. He highlighted expanded services, including CT, X-ray, ultrasound, additional lab testing, and an onsite retail pharmacy. Rehabilitation services, including a hydrotherapy pool, will be available as part of refurbishing the current clinic building.

Physicians Ray James, D.O., and Bret Kueber, M.D., said expanded diagnostic tools will help clinicians define problems more quickly and reach a diagnosis faster and with greater confidence. Dr. James noted that today, some patients must be sent to the emergency room simply to obtain timely imaging — a step the new facility is expected to reduce. They also pointed to safety features, including three negative-pressure exam rooms and separation between urgent care and primary care.

Dr. James urged the audience to think in terms of “life or limb,” noting that symptoms such as chest pain, stroke warning signs, severe bleeding, or loss of consciousness should trigger an immediate call to 911. If you’re not sure what to do, call the Clinic. There is always a physician on call, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

In emergencies, patients are transported by ambulance or, when needed, by air. While patients may have a say in where they receive care, he noted that for time-sensitive situations — including trauma, stroke, or cardiac events — EMS destination protocols are designed to get patients to the right hospital quickly. Once stabilized, patients can be transferred to another hospital.

On referrals, Driscoll and Dr. Kueber acknowledged that specialist availability can make timely appointments harder to secure but emphasized that decisions are made in partnership with the patient. The Clinic helps identify appropriate specialists, sends records, and tracks each referral so it does not “disappear into a black hole.” The Clinic coordinates roughly 1,500 referrals each year.

Duckworth also raised the question of insurance. Driscoll explained that the Clinic does not participate in any health insurance plans and does not accept assignment from Medicare or Medicare Advantage; all patients pay at the time of service. For primary care patients, the Clinic will, as a courtesy, submit claims to Medicare and commercial insurance, with any reimbursement paid directly to the patient. Urgent care patients receive a receipt that they may submit to their insurer.

During the audience Q&A, one question focused on what to do if cell service is unreliable when calling 911. The doctors advised residents to try satellite calling on newer phones, move outdoors for a stronger signal, or go directly to the island firehouse for assistance.

The full video replay is now available to watch at your convenience.