INCREASED NUMBER OF CARE PROVIDERS IMPROVING ACCESS

Spirit Lake, IA (July 24, 2015) Lakes Regional Healthcare (LRH) is dedicated to providing patients with great care, as soon as it can be provided. As departments of LRH, the Avera Medical Group (AMG) family practice clinics have taken steps to see patients as quickly as possible.

LRH Vice President of Outpatient and Clinic Services Lois Hawn said, “In the past year or two, we’ve recruited physicians and nurse practitioners to meet patient demand, and have been successful in doing so. In the past it hasn’t always been easy to get in to see the physicians because of their availability relative to the number of people requiring care, but that has changed because we have a number of new providers that have recently joined the groups and more yet to come.”

AMG-Lakes Family Practice (LFP) welcomed Nurse Practitioner Natalie Potrament last fall and Andrew Mueting, D.O. will join the group on August 3. “Natalie’s helped tremendously. Patients love her caring attitude and how she doesn’t rush them. She takes time to educate them, and she also helps the physicians focus on patients that require ongoing care for chronic conditions,” said Hawn. “Dr. Mueting is going to be a fantastic addition – he’s already been met with much enthusiasm by the community, as he’s attended various events we’ve held such as our Brunch and Baby Talk event and has had a chance to meet people.”

AMG-Spirit Lake Medical Center (SLMC) has added three full-time providers and one temporary provider, and will welcome anotherprovider next year. Nurse Practitioner Jessica Kelley started caring for patients nearly two years ago, when Drs. Webb and Brevik left to pursue other opportunities. Hawn said, “Jessica was our first nurse practitioner and really demonstrated how physicians and nurse practitioners working together can provide the best overall care for the patient.”

Since that time, AMG-SLMC has added Zachary Borus, M.D., M.P.H., and Nurse Practitioner Marsha Haar. “I can’t tell you how many compliments we receive about Dr. Borus – he takes a holistic approach to patient care, treating the whole person. Marsha joined the group in the last few weeks and we anticipate patients and physicians alike will enjoy her as well.”

Mara Groom, D.O., will join AMG-SLMC in August 2016. Dr. Borus said, “Dr. Groom will be a great addition to our clinic and community, with a goal to provide timely, quality care.”

In order to be as responsive as possible to patients needing to be seen in the clinic, which can be tough especially during the summer season when vacations are often taken, Hawn said they’ve been fortunate that Dr. William Held has been working two or three days per week and will continue to do so until Dr. Groom arrives. Dr. Held is from Sioux Falls and has provided family medicine for most of his career. He most recently retired from working in emergency medicine at the Sioux Falls VA Medical Center.

In addition to the new providers being able to see more patients, AMG-LFP has a QuickCare clinic Monday through Thursday to see people with urgent, acute injuries and illnesses such as minor burns, cuts, earaches, allergies, and nausea. Hawn said, “We have open spots into the early evening to better accommodate work and school schedules. To get in, you just need to call 336-3750.”

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