Area doctors, lawyers prepare for showdown

Friday will mark the 10th year for the annual Doctors vs. Lawyers Basketball Showdown, and the lawyers want to send the competition to the hospital.

"Last year, it was decided by a free shot, so the attorneys weren't too happy," said Larry Essner, executive director of the Community Counseling Center Foundation and organizer of the game. "They're looking for revenge this year."

The event benefits the foundation, typically to the tune of $12,000 per game, Essner said. That's the goal for this year.

The money will be used to bring the center into compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which protects health information created or maintained by health care providers. The Office for Civil Rights is enforcing the privacy portion of the act, which goes into effect April 14.

To comply, the Community Counseling Center, located at 402 S. Silver Springs Road in Cape Girardeau, needs a variety of items, including special security doors that keep unauthorized persons away from protected information, a new billing system, more storage space and an off-premise backup system for records.

Essner said doctors and lawyers have been eager to help. This year, Dr. Randy Brown, a cardiologist, broke his ankle during practice and had to settle for being the coach.

Others on the doctors team are: Terry Spence, Jeff Steele, Eric Morton, Scott Smith, Aaron Andrews, Cory Thoma, Neal Frauwerth, Christopher Compton, Mason Bias, Bill Bradley, Joe McCadams, Mike Givens, Raleigh Johnson, Todd Lumsden and Thad Lake.

On the lawyers team are: coach Bryan Keller, Ed Fehlig, Jacob Zimmerman, Scott Lipke, Ted Yates, Todd Miller, Chance Hunter, Neal Frazier and Dan Rau.

The doctors have won seven of the nine games to date.

Tickets for the 6 to 7:30 p.m. tailgate party at the Drury Lodge are $20 and include food, beverages, a silent auction and the price of the game.

Tickets for the game, slated for 8 p.m. at Notre Dame High School, are $5 for adults, $2.50 for students and free for children under age 5.

Tickets are available at the Community Counseling Center, Schnucks, Benchmark Printing, from foundation board members and from Bryan Keller at the public defenders office.

For more information, call Essner at 334-1100.