Newman Regional Health is slated to open an urgent care clinic in 2011 following approval Wednesday afternoon by the hospital’s Board of Trustees.
The board voted unanimously to authorize hospital administration to negotiate clinic space lease at the southwest corner of the Flint Hills Mall (old Food 4 Less) and begin construction at a cost not to exceed $200,000. The vote came after a presentation by Kathie Butcher, vice president of medical services.
Butcher said the urgent care clinic, which will get its official name later, will be formed through Newman Medical Partners, which is a division of Newman Regional Health. The clinic is set to open in the first quarter of 2011 and will provide non-emergent care to Emporia and the surrounding communities. Examples of care that will be provided at the clinic include:
• Treatment of minor medical conditions.
• Lacerations.
• Sprains/strains.
• Closed fractures.
• The business model for the clinic also is designed to provide worker’s compensation urgent care, employee physicals, blood alcohol tests and immunizations.
The clinic will have three exam rooms with the potential for a procedure room and also a potential for future growth for radiology. Newman’s Durable Medical Equipment is slated to move into the space as well in September 2011.
The proposed hours for the clinic are from 5 to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; and in year three it is proposed that the clinic expand to 2 to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday. The hours are designed to be in alignment with pharmacy hours in Emporia.
Butcher said urgent care is one of the largest growing practices in the United States.
“Consumers are wanting treatment that is quick, convenient and affordable,” she said.
Staffing for the clinic will include a mid-level provider with a nurse practitioner or physician assistant and a medical assistant/EMT/receptionist and LPN.
The hospital is considering three finance options for the clinic which include: fully funded offsite, financed 24 months offsite and 50 percent of the remodel costs financed; or financed 24 months offsite and 100 percent of the remodel costs financed.
The urgent care clinic meet the hospital’s mission, Butcher said. She presented the following points to illustrate tie-in to the hospital’s mission:
• Urgent care/after hours clinic is designed to meet the needs of our community in a cost-effective setting.
• Heath care reform will drive providers to deliver care in a cost-effective setting.
• Newman Regional Health is meeting a growing demand for convenient care.
• Represents new revenue source for Newman Regional health.
For a complete look at Wednesday's meeting, see today's Gazette.
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
How does this work with the programs currently offered by Flint Hills Community Health Center, which has an urgent care program too. Will they compete or do they offer different services? And the story says it will be staffed by a "mid-level provider" does that mean a doctor or not? At least this is good news for the mall!
August 26, 2010 at 12:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
How much did Newman Regional Health lose last month?
August 26, 2010 at 9:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shoehorn (anonymous) says...
What may be more important is not how much, but where they lost money last month.
August 26, 2010 at 11:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dj2879 (anonymous) says...
I have conflicted feeling regarding Urgent Care centers. The one that I went to in Oklahoma was convenient, as it was open 8am to 9pm. I could go there until I could get into a dr office, which took three weeks. However, the doctors that I saw at the Urgent Care center were hit or miss. The one at night was fairly knowledgable and caring, the one during the day had half a clue and was very abrupt. It was similar to going to the ER, they were there to get you in and out, quick diagnosis, referral to another dr (in my case a dermatologist), and your dr note for work.
I realize that it's "Urgent Care" for a reason, but it's definitely "you get what you pay for." It would just be nice to see the facility here cater to those who can't afford the ER or a dr at the clinic, but still have quality doctors. I wish NRH luck with this!
August 26, 2010 at 11:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gooseylucy (anonymous) says...
"How much did Newman Regional Health lose last month?"
Reddog, That's exactly the point. NRH has been losing money almost every month for the past year or so. A business cannot survive doing the "status quo". They have to expand services and do different things to try and turn things around. If, as they say, Urgent Care is where the money is, then they have to give it a shot. (No pun intended.) :) Good luck to them!
August 27, 2010 at 8:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
overheard after the meeting;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkzV5A...
August 27, 2010 at 3:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
This not a done deal.The mall and hospital are still far apart. They can't agree on how much rent is to be paid
August 30, 2010 at 7:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
Should have said can't agree on price. But hospital is looking at part of old Food 4 Less building
August 30, 2010 at 7:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Let's see, we're to believe that NMCH is losing money, so they decide that spending more money to open a facility that will take additional business away from the hospital. This is a way to improve profits and operations issues?
I think I understand even better now why prices are the way they are in the medical field.
August 30, 2010 at 3:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gooseylucy (anonymous) says...
Neighbor, How can it take business away from the hospital, if the hospital owns the Urgent Care Center?? IMO it adds an additional source of revenue.
August 31, 2010 at 8:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
just wondering, who is going to pay for the asbestos clean up in the old food for less building? newman or the property owners? i don't think i would go near there until the asbestos is completely cleaned up. does newman remember this health hazard???? like i said just wondering.
September 2, 2010 at 8:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )