Business notebook: Women's to men's earnings ratio rises in Missouri

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor distributed a news release Tuesday showing the women's to men's earnings ratio in Missouri increased 3.8 percentage points from 2011 to 2012.

Missouri women who were full-time wage and salary workers had median weekly earnings of 78.5 percent of the $841 median weekly earnings of Missouri men in 2012, the release said, up from 74.7 percent in 2011.

Nationwide, women earned 80.9 percent of $854 weekly median for men in 2012.

The ratio of Missouri women's to men's earnings has ranged from 80.8 percent in 1998, the only time the state recorded above 80 percent since 1997, to a low of 73.5 percent in 2000, according to the release.

Concierge medicine comes to Cape Girardeau

Dr. Michael Wulfers, a family physician who has practiced in Cape Girardeau since 1985, will open the city's first direct primary care practice, IndependentMD, on April 1 at 37 Doctors' Park Drive.

Direct primary care medical practices, also called concierge medicine, are opening across the country, according to an email sent to the Southeast Missourian from Wulfers.

This kind of practice offers longer appointments, enhanced access to physicians, wholesale lab prices and generic medications that are distributed in the physician's office, the email said. Direct care physicians do not accept insurance payments.

"Direct care physician practices are a throwback to the days when the patient paid the doctor directly, and the doctor worked directly for the patient, not for the insurance company," the email said.

Business Roundup

* SoutheastHEALTH was recognized by the American Heart Association as a Fit-Friendly worksite for the third consecutive year. The hospital was recognized for creating a culture of wellness in the workplace, which it accomplished by providing subsidized memberships and payroll deduction for employees who join HealthPoint Fitness, offering healthy food choices in the cafeteria and identifying designated walking routes. The association recognized 291 workplaces in its 11-state Midwest affiliate region. SoutheastHEALTH earned gold-level status for 2013.

* Katy O'Ferrell's Publick House, an Irish restaurant at 300 Broadway in Cape Girardeau, has opened its bar.

* Tasty Drinks, 2136 William St., Suite 140, now is open.

* Bootheel Harley-Davidson in Scott City changed its name to Lawless Harley-Davidson.

* A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held to celebrate the opening of Cape Ultimate Skin Care, 819 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Cape Ultimate Skin Care offers full line of medical skin care and laser services.

* A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held to celebrate the opening of Re-Bath at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at 1267 N. Mount Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau. The locally owned and operated store is part of a national brand that has remodeled millions of bathrooms worldwide since 1979.

* A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held to celebrate the opening of Cottons Unlimited Transportation Co. at 10 a.m. Friday at 1267 N. Mount Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau. The business serves weddings, home goings, hotels and the general public.

* Simply Swirled, 2480 E. Main. St., Suite D, in Jackson, celebrated its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 7.

ashedd@semissourian.com

388-3632