Occupational health clinics join forces

But late last year, the Addison, Texas-based company learned that its lease at 3000 E. Division St. would not be renewed, said Bob Ratini, Concentra’s assistant vice president of operations.

Within weeks of the news, Ratini said Dr. Charles Mauldin, owner of Springfield Physical Medicine at 1308 N. Glenstone Ave., contacted Concentra to inquire about a partnership. The company ultimately agreed to acquire Mauldin’s practice for an undisclosed amount and merge the two clinics into a new Concentra Medical Center at the former Springfield Physical Medicine location.

Mauldin joined Concentra as a staff physician at the corporately owned occupational health center, which employs about 10. Dr. John Abraham remains in his post as Concentra medical director.

Mauldin founded Springfield Physical Medicine in 1989 and grew the physical medicine and rehabilitation practice through the years with referrals from company clients, according to a Concentra news release. Mauldin, who referred questions about the new arrangement to Concentra, also is chairman of the Worker’s Compensation Committee of Greene County.

“We’ve been interested in his practice for some time; we were just fortunate that it came to fruition … when we had to move anyway,” Ratini said. “He’s a very personable individual. … He’s well-established in the Springfield market, and for us, that’s important.”

Former Springfield Physical Medicine staff member Kristi Waeltz is administrator at the new Concentra Medical Center, which provides episodic care, preventive wellness and health education to employer-clients. The acquisition will allow Mauldin’s practice to grow its existing urgent-care business and add physical therapy services, according to Concentra.

Ratini said Concentra enters markets by acquiring existing occupational health practices or building new medical centers. In the past year, the company’s strategy has leaned more toward acquisition, he said, adding that Concentra assists its partner physicians by relieving burdensome administrative costs.

While the former Springfield Physical Medicine building offers greater visibility along busy Glenstone Avenue, the facility is considerably smaller than the East Division location, Ratini said. The new Concentra Medical Center is about 5,700 square feet compared to 12,000 at the old location, according to Greene County property records.

Ratini said Concentra is exploring the possibility of purchasing property north of Mauldin’s practice for additional space.

Concentra had been on East Division since 2001, when Dr. Gil Mobley sold Dr. Gil’s Immediate Care and Occupational Health Center to the company for less than $2 million. Mobley stayed on as staff physician, but severed his partnership with Concentra after about two years.

Mobley has accused Concentra of placing profits above customer service and pressuring its physicians to target a certain percentage of patients for physical therapy. In January, Mobley signed a five-year lease for the East Division building that formerly housed Dr. Gil’s, and he plans to reopen the clinic in its original space April 7.

Ratini said Concentra typically requires its staff physicians to sign contracts that include standard noncompete clauses, but he declined to specifically address Mobley’s complaints.

“Dr. Mobley is entitled to his opinions, and they are just that – his opinions,” Ratini said. “I stand by Concentra. We’re an organization that is geared toward patient care.”

Concentra operates 320 medical centers in 40 states and more than 270 on-site medical facilities at employer locations throughout the country, according to its Web site. There are seven centers each in the Kansas City and St. Louis metropolitan areas, Ratini said.

Healthy Businesses

Concentra Medical Center will host a business forum for current and prospective employer-clients March 27 at a yet-to-be-named location in Springfield. For more information, contact Becky Hosp at (417) 861-1377.