Area physician practices accepting unattached patients of closed CMH practices
By
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WILMINGTON – In the wake of the sudden closing of two CMH
Regional Health System physician practices this month, other area family
medicine and pediatricians on the CMH Medical Staff are stepping up to take
care of many of the newly unattached patients—those without a primary care
physician. Two other CMH-owned practices, CMH Family Health Center and East
Clinton Medical Services, and pediatricians with Wilmington Medical
Associates are accepting new patients.
CMH Pediatric and Adolescent Services at 448 W. Main St. closed
December 10 because the lone practice pediatrician, Dr. Seema
Nadkarni-Navalkar, moved to Virginia to be closer to family.
Dr. Scott Simmons, the family practitioner at the CMH Center for
Family Medicine at 781 W. Locust St., will close his office the last day of
this month because he is moving closer to family in Missouri.
Patients of these practices are encouraged to transfer their
care to another physician of their choosing. They may request copies of
their records by signing a release form to either have their records
transferred or to receive copies. Patients can also mail written requests.
“Both of these practices have a prevalence of Medicaid and
self-pay patients and we know there was concern in the community that these
patients would not be able to find a new medical home,” says Dr. Michael
Choo, interim president and chief executive officer of CMH Regional Health
System. “CMH Medical Staff members are looking to absorb as many of these
patients as possible.”
There is utmost community concern for area pediatric patients,
particularly those with complicated medical conditions.
Dr. Jeff Manser, a pediatrician with Wilmington Medical
Associates, has been on the CMH Medical Staff for 20 years and says his
practice colleagues, including family medicine physicians, always step up to
meet community health care needs.
“We know there are a lot of unattached patients in our area and
we want to serve the healthcare needs of the community,” Dr. Manser says.
“We have already taken on some of these patients and we will continue to do
so when possible because it is the right thing to do.”
Dr. Keith Holten is the founder and director of the CMH Family
Health Center at 825 W. Locust St., the clinical component of the University
of Cincinnati/CMH Family Medicine Residency Program. “By educating
physicians and staff, we think we can help meet some of this need,” Dr.
Holten says. “We have a process in place to get new patients scheduled for
urgent medical issues as we schedule them for a comprehensive first visit.”
Because it is a teaching facility, the Family Health Center
already serves a large percentage of uninsured and underinsured patients in
the CMH service area of Clinton, Highland and Fayette Counties.
The Family Health Center will try to accommodate some pediatric
patients during regular hours. More complex pediatric patients can also be
seen in consultative clinics at the center attended by local pediatricians
who teach at the residency program, including Dr. Manser, Dr. Mary Ann
Merling, and Dr. Lisa Ziemnik.
CMH Medical Staff member Dr. Glenn Rogers is the family doctor at
East Clinton Medical Services, 12459 US 22 and SR 3, in the Sabina Health
Center. That practice has already received a number of calls from patients
of both departing CMH doctors.
“We are taking new patients for now,” says office supervisor
Tammy Lovely. “We are scheduling into the middle of January.”[[In-content Ad]]
Regional Health System physician practices this month, other area family
medicine and pediatricians on the CMH Medical Staff are stepping up to take
care of many of the newly unattached patients—those without a primary care
physician. Two other CMH-owned practices, CMH Family Health Center and East
Clinton Medical Services, and pediatricians with Wilmington Medical
Associates are accepting new patients.
CMH Pediatric and Adolescent Services at 448 W. Main St. closed
December 10 because the lone practice pediatrician, Dr. Seema
Nadkarni-Navalkar, moved to Virginia to be closer to family.
Dr. Scott Simmons, the family practitioner at the CMH Center for
Family Medicine at 781 W. Locust St., will close his office the last day of
this month because he is moving closer to family in Missouri.
Patients of these practices are encouraged to transfer their
care to another physician of their choosing. They may request copies of
their records by signing a release form to either have their records
transferred or to receive copies. Patients can also mail written requests.
“Both of these practices have a prevalence of Medicaid and
self-pay patients and we know there was concern in the community that these
patients would not be able to find a new medical home,” says Dr. Michael
Choo, interim president and chief executive officer of CMH Regional Health
System. “CMH Medical Staff members are looking to absorb as many of these
patients as possible.”
There is utmost community concern for area pediatric patients,
particularly those with complicated medical conditions.
Dr. Jeff Manser, a pediatrician with Wilmington Medical
Associates, has been on the CMH Medical Staff for 20 years and says his
practice colleagues, including family medicine physicians, always step up to
meet community health care needs.
“We know there are a lot of unattached patients in our area and
we want to serve the healthcare needs of the community,” Dr. Manser says.
“We have already taken on some of these patients and we will continue to do
so when possible because it is the right thing to do.”
Dr. Keith Holten is the founder and director of the CMH Family
Health Center at 825 W. Locust St., the clinical component of the University
of Cincinnati/CMH Family Medicine Residency Program. “By educating
physicians and staff, we think we can help meet some of this need,” Dr.
Holten says. “We have a process in place to get new patients scheduled for
urgent medical issues as we schedule them for a comprehensive first visit.”
Because it is a teaching facility, the Family Health Center
already serves a large percentage of uninsured and underinsured patients in
the CMH service area of Clinton, Highland and Fayette Counties.
The Family Health Center will try to accommodate some pediatric
patients during regular hours. More complex pediatric patients can also be
seen in consultative clinics at the center attended by local pediatricians
who teach at the residency program, including Dr. Manser, Dr. Mary Ann
Merling, and Dr. Lisa Ziemnik.
CMH Medical Staff member Dr. Glenn Rogers is the family doctor at
East Clinton Medical Services, 12459 US 22 and SR 3, in the Sabina Health
Center. That practice has already received a number of calls from patients
of both departing CMH doctors.
“We are taking new patients for now,” says office supervisor
Tammy Lovely. “We are scheduling into the middle of January.”[[In-content Ad]]