When someone has been at a job long enough, sometimes their enthusiasm can wane. That is not a problem for Dr. Richard E. Draper, especially when it comes to talking about Hannibal Regional Medical Group’s new expanded medical service, Express Care.
“It’s pretty cool,” said HRMG’s medical director.
Located on the north end of the Hannibal Regional Medical Building’s first floor, Express Care is a clinic for patients of all ages. Medical care will be available from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday.
“I like the idea,” said Draper. “As an ER physician for 28 years, I’m used to doing things right now because ER doctors practice reactive medicine. I’m intrigued by the proactive part of it, about being able to have an impact on things before they become a problem. This is exciting. This is a good thing. It’s something that we needed for a long time. The capacity and availability of this type of medical care just hasn’t been here.”
According to Draper, patients will be seen by certified nurse practitioners who are “members of Hannibal Regional Medical Group. They have a collaborating physician that’s responsible for oversight, suggestions and assistance.”
At Express Care, treatment of sore throats, cough, cold and flu symptoms, earaches, sinus infections, rashes and many other problems will be available.
“I think most of the time they (patients) will come in for something they may have a pretty good idea what it is like a recurring strep throat, or an ear infection for their children, or a bladder infection, or something like that,” said Draper. “I think for the more serious things, because of the nurse practitioner’s background, she’ll be to triage more appropriately and refer these people on if they have more significant problems.”
Draper stresses that people coming to Express Care with serious health issues will be referred on to receive the appropriate care.
“Emergency departments are different animals and we don’t pretend to be an emergency department with this service, nor do we want to. Nor do we want people to think that this will allow them to not go to the emergency department because emergencies will still persist,” said Draper. “This is something completely new that is specifically designed for sore throats, rashes, fevers and very basic things that a well-trained professional can diagnose and treat, so they can be on their way.”
The Express Care concept was given careful consideration.
“We’ve been kicking the idea around for at least a year and actively working on it for probably six months,” said Draper. “The idea comes from people not having accessibility to competent medical care at odd hours for some minor things that can wind up taking inordinate amounts of time, increasing the amount of morbidity or sickness a person has while they’re waiting to get in to see their doctor. It’s also less expensive.”
For most cases, Express Care fees will be $60 for established HRMG patients and $80 for the first visit of new patients. All applicable health insurance and co-pays will be accepted as well as self pay.
On Monday, during its first morning of service, a total of four patients were seen. Draper anticipates that number will grow as awareness of the new program increases.
“We think that when it’s in full swing, when it is expanded to its capacity, it will serve 10,000 to 12,000 to 15,000 patients a year,” he said.
For more information about Express Care, patients can call (573) 629-3330.
|
|
|
When someone has been at a job long enough, sometimes their enthusiasm can wane. That is not a problem for Dr. Richard E. Draper, especially when it comes to talking about Hannibal Regional Medical Group’s new expanded medical service, Express Care.
“It’s pretty cool,” said HRMG’s medical director.
Located on the north end of the Hannibal Regional Medical Building’s first floor, Express Care is a clinic for patients of all ages. Medical care will be available from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday.
“I like the idea,” said Draper. “As an ER physician for 28 years, I’m used to doing things right now because ER doctors practice reactive medicine. I’m intrigued by the proactive part of it, about being able to have an impact on things before they become a problem. This is exciting. This is a good thing. It’s something that we needed for a long time. The capacity and availability of this type of medical care just hasn’t been here.”
According to Draper, patients will be seen by certified nurse practitioners who are “members of Hannibal Regional Medical Group. They have a collaborating physician that’s responsible for oversight, suggestions and assistance.”
At Express Care, treatment of sore throats, cough, cold and flu symptoms, earaches, sinus infections, rashes and many other problems will be available.
“I think most of the time they (patients) will come in for something they may have a pretty good idea what it is like a recurring strep throat, or an ear infection for their children, or a bladder infection, or something like that,” said Draper. “I think for the more serious things, because of the nurse practitioner’s background, she’ll be to triage more appropriately and refer these people on if they have more significant problems.”
Draper stresses that people coming to Express Care with serious health issues will be referred on to receive the appropriate care.
“Emergency departments are different animals and we don’t pretend to be an emergency department with this service, nor do we want to. Nor do we want people to think that this will allow them to not go to the emergency department because emergencies will still persist,” said Draper. “This is something completely new that is specifically designed for sore throats, rashes, fevers and very basic things that a well-trained professional can diagnose and treat, so they can be on their way.”
The Express Care concept was given careful consideration.
“We’ve been kicking the idea around for at least a year and actively working on it for probably six months,” said Draper. “The idea comes from people not having accessibility to competent medical care at odd hours for some minor things that can wind up taking inordinate amounts of time, increasing the amount of morbidity or sickness a person has while they’re waiting to get in to see their doctor. It’s also less expensive.”
For most cases, Express Care fees will be $60 for established HRMG patients and $80 for the first visit of new patients. All applicable health insurance and co-pays will be accepted as well as self pay.
On Monday, during its first morning of service, a total of four patients were seen. Draper anticipates that number will grow as awareness of the new program increases.
“We think that when it’s in full swing, when it is expanded to its capacity, it will serve 10,000 to 12,000 to 15,000 patients a year,” he said.
For more information about Express Care, patients can call (573) 629-3330.
