Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / July 20, 1978, edition 1 / Page 7
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32, Albemarle Family Practice, Ltd. MEETING HEALTH CARE NEEDS - Albemarle Family Practice, Ltd., located in Perquimans County at the "Five Mile Y" opened in mid-December and since has had overwhelming response from the public. Administrator Ronnie Sawyer explained that the location was selected due to its cen tralization in an area where additional rural health care was needed. Patients come from throughout the Albemarle area. SIGN OF FUTURE PLANS - While Albemarle Family Practice, Ltd. has en joyed a thriving business since opening its doors, plans for meeting the needs of focal citizens have not stopped there. A partner ship by practice owner Dr. Clement Lucas and Dr. Richard Hines of Edenton has been formed to undertake a health service park project. The park will be located on 26 acres of land where Albemarle Family Practice, Ltd. is currently operating. The first phase of the project, expected to be completed in about a year, has a projected cost of $1 million. PERSONAL ATTENTION - Dr. Clement Laeas and member* of his staff have com bined the idea of personal ??> savinc patients' time ss a basic pb<V>'HwhT ' * -iwn~T^? mm m wjp^wiiwtiyii/ at Albemarle Family Practice, Ltd. Above Dr. Lucas, nurae Patti Farless (left) and Bowman Gray Medkal School atudent Sara ? ' ' * Frost comfort one of many patients. Ms. Frost Is spending five weeks st the locsl practice. (EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a continuation in a series of weekly articles featur ing new businesses and professional people in and around Perquimans County.) Text it Photos By KATHY M. NEWBERN The patient's time is just as important as the doc tor's time. That's the philosophy at Albemarle Family Practice, Ltd. Privately owned by Dr. Clement Lucas, Albemarle Family Practice started offering additional needed health care services to Albemarle residents in mid-December. And no, more than six months later, the practice has become well established with work loads proving that the need existed. The combined private practice and mini medical center is located in Per quimans County at the "Five Mile Y." Its patients however come not only from Perquimans, but other surrounding areas such as Tyrrell, Chowan and Gates counties. The location was selected due to its centralization in an area where additional rural health care has been needed. Discussing the success of Albemarle Family Practice, Ad ministrator Ronnie Sawyer said, "There is a need in this area for better health care and more of it." And with that attitude, the practice began. He ad ded that the lack of physi cians in Tyrrell and Gates counties and previously in Perquimans County, played a role in establishing the need for the practice in north eastern North Carolina. If anyone had any doubts that the additional health care would be well received, they need only check the records. As full time physician, Dr. Lucas explained that he an ticipated a four to six mon ths period to get an active practice going "However," he said, "in six weeks we were overrun with people." Despite the overwhelm ing response by the public, Dr. Lucas and his staff continue to emphasize per sonal patient care. He summed up the attitude well by saying, "We'd rather see fewer people in the day and give them more personal attention." However, Albemarle Family Practice is manag ing to see many people daily and still provide that personal attention that Dr. Lucas demands. In keep ing with the idea of the im portance of the patient's time, the practice is carry ing out an ongoing time study. For each patient, a record is kept of the time of his arrival, when he is seen by the doctor, and the time when he leaves the office. This, according to Sawyer, allows the staff to evaluate how well they are keeping with that fundamental idea and professionalism. At present, the results have been gratifying. The practice is operated on the basis of appoint ments being preferred, however walk-in patients are accepted and without much waiting. MODERN & INNOVATIVE The facility itself and the equipment at Albemarle Family Practice can only be described as modern and innovative. According to Saywer, "The lab here is just as sophisticated as you're going to find anywhere in the area." The built-in lab facilities are part of what makes Albemarle Family Prac tice more than just a doc tor's office At present, there are employed four of fice, people (which in cludes an administrator, and an assistant, one lab technicist, two nurses, one nurses' aide, and a full time physician. Additonal help is needed to meet the growing de mand. Concerning that, Dr. Lucas said, "We are seeking only the highest qualified and most well trained people to work here. We want only Board certified physicians and American trained physi cians to deliver services in areas we've identified." Along with additional help will come additional office hours. At present Dr. Lucas in on call 24 hours daily. The regular office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition, the practice is open from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Satur days. This reflects the staffs understanding that everyone does not become ill on a regular 9-5 schedule. EXCITING FUTURE While many would think Albemarle Family Prac tice, as it is, offers much in meeting health care needs, Dr. Lucas forsees where much more can be done. Because of that foresight, plans are in the making for a 26-acre health care park to be developed at the site. Dr. Richard Hines of Edenton and Dr. Lucas, have formed a partnership in undertaking this major project, something both have long been interested in. Funding at present is totally from private sources. Phase I of the current plans call for an estimated $1 million building of ap proximately 25,000 square feet offering varied services. Such professional ser vices will include a phar macy, optometrist, x-rays, emergency room, op timologist, physical therapy, denistry, surgery, family doctors, and many other possibilities. The project is being designed, according to Lucas, by "probably the most innovative health care team in the country." Its appearance will be rather "unique looking" and is designed for flex ibility so it can easily be added to or taken from allowing rearrangement of inside space. It will include total landscape design. EFFICIENT OFFICE - Part of the behind the scenes work for many businesses and professional firms in cludes much paper work and scheduling for efficiency. Two office employees which keep things running smoothly at Albemarle Family Practice, Ltd. are Dellie Bass (seated) and Brenda Hufton. MODERN LAB ? One , feature <rf the local prac tice is a modern lab where much work can be done to save patients time. Above, , Norma Tbomassy, lab technologist, is shown at work.
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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July 20, 1978, edition 1
7
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