Mahaska Health Partnership and Family Medical Center partner to provide Hospitalist Program

Mahaska Health Partnership

MAHASKA COUNTY – Mahaska Health Partnership and the physicians and providers of Family Medical Center work closely together with the common goal of improving the health and well-being of the communities they serve.

It is with great excitement that they join together to announce a hospitalist program, to begin Jan. 1, 2013. According to MHP CEO Jay Christensen, hospitalist programs are part of a national trend where a physician is solely dedicated to caring for patients in the hospital. By partnering with a hospitalist, local providers can focus on their outpatient practice, which should lead to easier access and more timely appointments in their offices.

“The hospitalist will be immediately available to patients to evaluate changes and make adjustments to their treatment,” Christensen said. “Because they are based in the hospital, they are more accessible not only to the patient, but also to the nursing staff. The hospitalist maintains close communication with the patient’s primary care physician, informing him or her of any changes in the patient’s condition or treatment.”

The providers of Family Medical Center, which include Drs. Shawn Richmond, Stephen Mineart, Anne Whitis, Edward Hirl and Allan Peterson; Physician Assistant Kim Seda, and Nurse Practitioners Diane Nutter and Mary Kay Henderson; have been proactive in the development of the hospitalist program. According to Dr. Mineart, the ultimate goal is to have the best clinical outcomes for patients.

“Patients in the hospital need decisions for their care made very quickly and patients in the clinic want timely appointments,” Dr. Mineart stressed. “The hospitalist program will provide the best of both by ensuring timely access to a physician on the hospital side and allowing us to address wait time for patients at our clinic since we will no longer be taking call in the hospital.”

The providers of FMC say they are very excited for the new program. “It will be very helpful to have a trusted colleague watching over my patients in the hospital and keeping me informed so I can focus on my patients at the clinic,” Dr. Hirl said. “Right now, I split my time and often get called away if there is a question or emergency with a patient in the hospital, which delays regularly scheduled appointments in the clinic.”

The trusted colleagues Dr. Hirl mentioned are Family Practice Physician Dr. Anne Whitis and Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Kym Life. Dr. Anne currently practices at Family Medical Center and Dr. Life is an employed physician in MHP Emergency Services. MHP’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Matt Whitis and Emergency Services Physician Dr. Amy Montgomery will also help support the hospitalist program.

As Dr. Anne transitions from Family Medical Center to a full time hospitalist role, patients can expect to see some very positive changes at both the hospital and FMC.

“I have worked in the clinic setting for 23 years so I am very familiar with the demands on physicians’ time and the struggles we face when trying to sufficiently meet the needs of patients in the hospital and those scheduled in the clinic,” Dr. Anne said. “I think the long-standing relationship I have with my co-workers at FMC, as well as with the community, will only enhance the benefits of having a hospitalist program.”

With the transition of Dr. Anne from the clinic to hospitalist setting, FMC and MHP are glad to announce the addition of Family Practice Physician Dr. Leigh Gilburn, who also provides obstetrical services. Dr. Gilburn, who began her practice on Oct. 22, treats patients of all ages, providing for their primary care needs. Her office is located on the third floor of the Medical Specialty Center with Family Medical Center. Appointments can be made by calling 672-3360.

“Dr. Gilburn is a great addition to the medical community and a good complement to the providers at Family Medical Center,” Dr. Hirl shared. “She brings more than 18 years of medical experience and we are excited that she will be delivering babies at MHP.”

According to Christensen, the ultimate goal of MHP and FMC is to create a stronger healthcare system in Mahaska County. He said all parties involved believe that these changes will lead to a better medical experience for community members. “Our focus is the health and well-being of the communities we serve,” Christensen said. “We will continue working closely together to ensure a strong relationship to meet all of your family’s healthcare needs locally.

“We value the trust our patients put in us and we believe they will see the benefits of this new healthcare landscape very quickly,” Christensen stressed.