DOCTOR PLANS CLINIC FOR WALK-IN IN CLIENTS

During his four years as an emergency room physician, Dr. Robb Hicks saw a need for another choice in health care.

Patients needed a facility that combined services of an emergency room and a family physician's office, so Hicks is opening Immediate HealthCare Inc., Center for Occupational Medicine at 1702 N. Kingshighway, at Lexington and Kingshighway.

He hopes to open Aug. 1.

The facility will offer walk-in medical care without appointments six days a week and after business hours.

Hicks, a Southeast Missouri Hospital emergency room doctor, said: "There weren't enough doctors in town. At the hospital, you can have long waits and it's sometimes expensive.

Sometimes patients had an injury, but didn't really need a hospital emergency room, Hicks said. "But there were no other choices."

In connection with the walk-in clinic, the center will provide occupational medicine designed for workers who are hurt on the job.

The center would serve as case manager for the worker to coordinate with specialists, therapists and employers with the goal of getting people back to work.

Hicks has planned the clinic for 2 1/2 years. He is working with Hillman and Associates Inc., an occupational health consulting business, to set up the practice.

Kathleen Hillman and Hicks spoke with members of the SEMO Business Group on Health Wednesday about what businesses would like to see from an occupational health clinic.

The cost of workers' compensation claims is a serious consideration for employers, Hillman said.

In the past, employers and physicians haven't had a lot of communication. Doctors are the ones who determine when an injured worker can return to work and what restrictions the employee might have.

But, often doctors have never seen the worksite and don't know what a particular job involves.

Employers also want medical professionals familiar with OSHA and Americans with Disabilities Act regulations and with drug testing.

The employers attending Wednesday's meeting were interested in careful tracking of an injured worker's treatment and getting that worker back on the job as quickly as possible.

Hicks said his business is designed to work alongside businesses for that goal.