Transition planned for September 1, 2014
(FERGUS FALLS, Minn.) – Dr. Owen Thompson of the Barnesville Area Clinic and Lake Region Healthcare, (LRH) headquartered in Fergus Falls, are pleased to announce that the two will merge effective September 1, 2014.
"I have been exploring options for partnering to develop a mutually beneficial relationship that will allow our clinic to succeed into the future as a healthy viable primary care facility. After extensive consideration, I have no doubt that Lake Region Healthcare is the right choice." said Dr. Owen Thompson, who has owned the clinic since 1992. “When the Barnesville Area Clinic was established by community leaders in in the late 1970’s, it was to ensure the community had hometown access to a quality, robust primary care clinic. LRH is clearly the best partnership option by far to ensure that this mission continues to be met," Thompson added.
"The addition of the Barnesville Area Clinic to our organization is a great fit with our growth strategy to meet our aim of helping people in our region improve their health," said LRH President & CEO, Larry Schulz. "The mission of the two organizations aligns extremely well. The excellent hometown care provided by the staff and providers there matches our commitment to keeping quality health care close to home.” Barnesville will join Battle Lake, Ashby, Elbow Lake and the Fergus Falls Walk-In Clinic on LRH’s list of outreach locations.
Patients will see very little in the way of changes as a result of the merger since the same familiar staff will continue to serve their health care needs. Both Dr. Thompson and Adam Hohman, DNP will continue to practice at the clinic along with occasional assistance from Ron Johnson, PA-C who has continued to provide back-up coverage since his retirement at the end of 2013. Plans are in place to recruit an additional full-time nurse practitioner or physician assistant to join the clinic as well.
Changes will primarily be seen in the billing, registration and medical records processes that will be transitioned to LRH. This will also provide the option for Barnesville clinic patients to use the Manage My Health electronic patient portal LRH will be introducing later this year. The portal gives secure, online access to medical records along with options to correspond with providers and schedule appointments.
"We will be working to bring various specialty providers from the LRH medical staff to the Barnesville Area Clinic on a rotating basis to provide for as many of the specialty care needs the community has as well," Thompson said. “I’m very excited about this next stage for the Barnesville Area Clinic and the benefits it will bring to our patients and our community,” he added.
About Lake Region Healthcare
Lake Region Healthcare is living out its vision to be Minnesota's preeminent regional healthcare partner. With over 70 physicians and over 850 employees, its team is dedicated to serving its patients and community with integrity, teamwork, compassion and excellence. For more information about Lake Region Healthcare, visit www.lrhc.org.
About Barnesville Area Clinic
The Barnesville Area Clinic, Inc. was formed in the late 1970s by community members who raised money, bought property, built and equipped the clinic in order to ensure quality health care would be available in the community. The clinic was operated by various entities throughout the years until Dr. Thompson's arrival in 1992. He has operated it since then as well as purchased the building, grounds and equipment. The original community stakeholders and founders continue to play a very supportive role in maintaining a full service primary care clinic in the Barnesville community.
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