Skaggs grows operations, adds Urgent Care Plus

by Vera-Jane Goodin

SBJ Contributing Writer

sbj@sbj.net

Skaggs Community Health Care Center is growing and adding services to better serve the community of Branson and the surrounding area.

When Skaggs opened Jan. 8, 1950, it had 25 beds. It is now licensed for 132. Between fiscal years 1997-1998 and 2002-2003, the number of inpatient admissions grew by 31 percent, the number of newborns by 13 percent, and the number of emergency room visits increased by 39 percent.

"Our community wants and deserves the best in health care locally, and during Skaggs' 53-year history we have strived to meet this expectation," said Bob Phillips, CEO/administrator. "Our goal is to continue to expand services and recruit quality physicians, nurses and staff so our friends and neighbors won't have to travel out of the area to obtain a full range of high-quality, caring health care services."

Skaggs Occupational Health and Urgent Care Plus opened Jan. 5. Community response has been good in the short time the urgent care center has been open, said Carolyn Duncan, director of clinic support services.

"We've had up to 15 patients in one day," Duncan said. Her goal is to have 35 to 45 patients going through the center per day.

Urgent Care Plus is more economical both for the patient and the hospital than for the patient with something minor going through the emergency room, Duncan said. The urgent care center isn't meant to handle such problems as severe injuries, chest pain, severe abdominal cramping, and severe head pain. Duncan said those types of complaints should go to the ER.

"There are times when regular clinics are closed and the patient needs assistance, yet it doesn't warrant an emergency room visit. This is something we can offer the community that can better fit their needs," Duncan said.

The new clinic is staffed by two full-time physicians, Randall Cross, MD, and Michael Henry, DO. One full-time nurse practitioner, Kathy Hackman, and one part-time physician assistant, Jim King, round out the regular staff. Other Skaggs physicians cover the center on weekends as needed.

"We at Urgent Care Plus are not a substitute for the patient's primary care physician or a substitute to replace the emergency room. We think that we can offer services that they could be receiving from the primary care physicians, but the hours of operation are extended beyond those of an ordinary clinic's hours. That's the way we serve the community," Duncan said.

The urgent care center was combined with the already existing occupational health center which was located elsewhere, so that both are within one clinic located in Skaggs Outpatient Center, 545 Business Highway 65, Ste. 100. Hours are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekends.

Although the occupational health service was combined with the Urgent Care Plus, Skaggs Occupational Health hasn't really changed, except for the expansion of available hours.

"With the clinic, we believe we can meet the needs of the employers of the area more satisfactorily than in the past when, for example, they were forced to send a minor injury through the ER on a weekend," Duncan said.

Besides the new urgent care center, other changes are underway, said Tracey Barton, chief marketing officer. Skaggs, which has more than 950 employees, is getting a new parking facility in May with more than 300 spaces. The ER is being renovated for more treatment rooms, a better waiting room and an addition to the trauma room. That is scheduled for completion by April.

The ER renovation is estimated to be $900,000, said Mary Jo Fisk, communications coordinator.

"We recently added sports and performance medicine through our physical therapy department. It focuses on athletes and dancers. That was established in the latter part of October 2003," Barton said.

"With the heart program, we had a couple of specialists added to the staff, a nephrologist and a pulmonologist," Barton said.

Skaggs Regional Cardiac Center, which opened on July 18, 2002, is still going strong.

"From July 2002 through December 2003, more than 285 cardiovascular procedures, along with numerous other chest, heart and lung surgeries, were performed at Skaggs Regional Cardiac Center at Skaggs Community Health Center in Branson. This pace far exceeds the original projection of 150 heart procedures to be accomplished in the first calendar year," Fisk said.

Skaggs Foundation, established in July 2002, helps fund Skaggs Community Health Center's expansions and programs.

"Skaggs is a community hospital owned by the community. It receives no tax monies so donations received by the Skaggs Foundation will continue to enhance Skaggs Community Health Center's ability to provide quality health care services to residents and visitors," Fisk said.