Family Medical Centers Announce New Collaboration with St. Mary’s
The Family Medical Centers in Ironton, Coal Grove, South Point and Chesapeake have a new look on the outside and a new energy on the inside because of a unique collaboration between the Ironton Lawrence County CAO and St. Mary’s Medical Center. The new signs at each center reflect this collaboration with the logos of the two health care providers and the slogan "working together to serve you." The care options now available for patients represent the biggest benefit of this joint effort, and the collaboration will eventually lead to an increase in available services at each location.
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| The Family Medical Center in Ironton is one of four locations in Lawrence County where St. Mary’s Medical Center is collaborating with physicians and staff to expand patient services. |
The Family Medical Centers already serve thousands of primary care patients a year, and the Joint Commission accreditation board has consistently given the centers outstanding ratings for care. St. Mary’s Medical Center has a similar reputation for quality and at 393 beds, St. Mary’s is the largest hospital in the Tri-State region. The combination of the resources of both health providers creates a benefit to patients unmatched in the region. Patients who use the Family Medical Centers will have access to all the services offered St. Mary’s, as well as the specialist doctors who practice at St. Mary’s. "We want to increase our patients’ access to specialty services and diagnostics," said D.R. Gossett, executive director of the Ironton Lawrence County CAO. Those assessments will be available at St. Mary’s if patients make that choice, but our plan is to eventually make those additional services available at some of the centers themselves."
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| Local leaders help administrators and staff of the Family Medical Centers unveil the new sign that reflects the collaboration with St. Mary’s Medical Center. |
Today’s announcement is the latest in a series of steps by Lawrence County Healthcare Future, LLC, to improve the delivery of health care in Lawrence County. The group recently announced plans to build a new Family Medical Center in Ironton on a site near the intersection of St. Rt. 141 and U.S. Route 52. Construction on that project is expected to begin in 2009 and later phases could include a surgery and imaging center if patient demand shows those additions are feasible. If those additions happen, then the group will assess if it’s possible to build a new hospital in Ironton.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will St. Mary's own the Family Medical Centers
No. The Ironton Lawrence County CAO will continue to own and manage the centers. St. Mary’s will serve in an advisory role, providing information, services and resources. St. Mary’s will also accept patient referrals from the centers and everyone who sees a doctor will have access to the services and specialists at St. Mary’s Medical Center.
Will this create new jobs?
The Family Medical Centers are already fully staffed, but as the services and the centers themselves expand, there will be new job opportunities. The construction of the new Family Medical Center in Ironton alone will create new construction jobs, and many other boosts for the economy are expected to follow.
What type of changes will we see in the operation of the Family Medical Centers because of this partnership?
The immediate changes you’ll see are open scheduling for patients, a streamlined process for hospital admission, and an expanded network of medical professionals available to serve patients. With open scheduling for patients, no appointment will be needed at the Family Medical Center location in Coal Grove. If patients need hospital care, physicians are available at St. Mary’s for a quick admission process. And the staff at the Family Medical Centers have access to all of the staff and resources at St. Mary’s Medical Center. St. Mary’s was impressed with what the Family Medical already offered, and that’s one reason for the collaboration. St. Mary’s started in 1924, and the Family Medical Centers have incorporated many of St. Mary’s best practices at the centers. The change is not just cosmetic. There is a true commitment to take a great quality of care at the Family Medical Centers to an even higher level. St. Mary’s has always served the Lawrence County community since opening its doors, but the Family Medical Centers offer a greater connection with patients. The Family Medical Center physicians know the health care needs of each community and St. Mary’s is also receiving great value from this collaboration.
Will I still be able to choose a hospital other than St. Mary’s if I go to the Family Medical Centers?
The patient always has the final say in the choice of a hospital. St. Mary’s appreciates when patients use the services at St. Mary’s.
