Blood draw policy raises concern

A client expressed frustration with a new clinic policy during the hospital district’s regular monthly board meeting on March 8. Local resident Judy Ross needed a blood draw to renew a prescription and was disappointed to find out that the new policy would now require a trip to Bellingham for any lab work.

“The people of Point Roberts ought not to have to make a four-hour drive for a five-minute procedure,” Ross said. Transportation to Bellingham was a challenge, especially because Ross no longer drives on the freeway. “I don’t expect you to treat my appendicitis at the clinic, but something like a blood draw should be done.”

The termination of the blood draw program was announced during the February board meeting by Dr. Sean Bozorgzadeh, a principal of SuperTrack Urgent Care, the Bellingham company that provides medical services for the Point Roberts Clinic. “Although it may appear to be a 5-minute procedure, there are many things that need to be in place before a blood draw can be done,” Dr. Bozorgzadeh said, adding that whoever draws the blood must be able to deal with possible complications, and that person must be at least an RN. The current RN has recently turned in her resignation. He went on to say, “The problem doesn’t stop there, there is also a problem with transportation. There have been several days where FedEx hasn’t picked up and we have had to drive the blood down to Bellingham ourselves.” Holding samples for too long can result in faulty lab results, which would require the test to be repeated. “It is actually better for you to have your blood drawn [off the Point]. You don’t even need to go to Bellingham, it can be done in Ferndale.”

Dr. Bozorgzadeh acknowledged the clinic’s obligation to make the process as easy as possible for all residents. “Our initial promise was that we will accommodate people who cannot get across the border and have a valid reason, and that promise is still the same.”

Dr. Bozorgzadeh also suggested a possible solution to the problem. He recommended approaching the Quest Diagnostics lab and asking that they send a representative to Point Roberts to draw blood on a weekly basis. He said he will speak with district superintendent Barbara Wayland to coordinate a meeting with Quest to explore the feasibility of the idea.