By Taylor Boyd
The former Patrick County Urgent Care reopened June 1 as Stuart Family Practice, a rural health clinic.
The facility temporarily closed in November before undergoing the rebranding effort.
Dr. Richard Cole said schedules were kept light on the first day because staff were unsure what to expect.
“It’s doing fine. Everything’s up and running,” he said.
Since opening, Dr. Richard Cole said schedules were kept light on the first day because the staff were unsure what to expect. Cole said he has not heard any complaints from patients.
“Everybody seems to be fine with it. One drawback, I guess, is we don’t have the LabCorp draw lab here, so for venipuncture lab drawing, we have you go to the other office,” he said of Patrick County Family Practice.
“We’ll try to do that ahead of time, so we have the results before they come,” he added.
Aside from that difference, Cole said the same services are offered at both locations.
Cole and family nurse practitioner Crystal Black will serve as providers at Stuart Family Practice.
“I’m here full time Monday through Friday, except Wednesdays. I have to go to the nursing home on Wednesdays,” Cole said.
He estimates the practice’s two providers will see about 40 patients each day.
“Some days will be less, and some days will be more. We can do more than that if we have to, but I would hope to see at least that much” daily, he said.
Because Stuart Family Practice is designated as a rural health clinic, Cole said it receives enhanced reimbursement through all-inclusive payment rates.
“We noticed that when we had the urgent care, our collections ratio was about 55 percent of our charges, and about 65 percent at the rural health clinic. So when we decided to bring this back, it just made better financial sense to reopen it as a rural health clinic. It’s just more financially viable,” Cole said.
Patrick County Family Practice also plans to expand later this year with the addition of new providers.
Cole said Carolyn Hicks will join the practice once she is credentialed, and Dr. Mitchell Brown is expected to begin in mid-August.
“He graduated from Mount Airy High School,” Cole said.
Future plans also include relocating Patrick County Med Spa, which currently shares the building with Stuart Family Practice, to the building’s lower level.
“Sometime within the next six to 12 months, depending on how long it takes us to do the renovations downstairs,” Cole said.
The Caring Hearts Free Clinic will remain in its current location.
Stuart Family Practice is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Walk-ins are accepted.
For more information, call 276-694-2199.
