September 14, 2016
Columbia opens new nurse-run clinic
Columbia University School of Nursing will hold a ribbon-cutting today for its new 3,300-square-foot, faculty-run clinic in Washington Heights. The facility will be run by three full-time nurse practitioners—all faculty members at Columbia, including one psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. An additional three or four nurse practitioners who primarily teach will also practice at the clinic part-time, said Stephen Ferrara, associate dean of clinical affairs at Columbia's School of Nursing. "We knew there was an existing need in Washington Heights, which made us look at this area," Ferrara said. Columbia found few primary care practices serving residents, he said. The practice will accept most third-party insurers and Medicare; it's in the process of applying to participate in managed Medicaid plans' networks. Nurse practitioners are typically reimbursed at 85% of physicians' rates, Ferrara said. Columbia nursing faculty members also practice at ColumbiaDoctors Midtown on West 51st Street in Manhattan.—J.L.