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HARRISON CROSSROADS CLINIC JOINS BAXTER REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM
BY DEBORAH STANUCH | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES MOORE
BAXTER REGIONAL IS BRINGING ITS UNIQUE BRAND OF PATIENT-CENTERED CARE TO HARRISON, WITH THE ADDITION OF A LONGTIME FAMILY PRACTICE CLINIC THERE. The joining of these two entities became effective November 1.
“This move made sense because we have a lot in common with the providers,” said Bill Baldwin, Baxter Regional VP/ Physician Enterprise. “They’re very friendly. They’re very people oriented. They’re all about their patients. We felt it would be a very good culture fit for Baxter Regional as we have the same attitudes toward patient care, physicians and staff as the hub of all that we do.”
Baxter Regional Crossroads Medical Clinic, located at 1420 Highway 62-65 in Harrison, is staffed by existing physicians Drs. Victor Chu and Kevin Jackson and family nurse practioners Jason Froeschle, Amanda Winford and Kim Cudworth.
“Baxter Regional’s philosophy on medicine is the reason why Jackson and I went into medicine,” Chu said. “We got into medicine because we wanted to help people, and we felt right away that Baxter Regional would support us in that way that would allow us to do that. The patient’s needs came first, and we really responded to that.
“When I asked around to patients that have gone to Baxter Regional, been in their ER or who have been in the hospital itself, they all tell me the same thing. They felt like the doctors and nurses were there for one thing: to see to their needs and treat them with the utmost respect and professionalism.”
Crossroads is the 27th clinic in the Baxter Regional family and will benefit from access to Baxter Regional’s long roster of specialists.
“The physicians there indicated they were very interested in being able to refer to our specialists of which we have an ample number,” Baldwin said. “Our expertise in neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, open-heart surgery and many other areas was very attractive to them. They now have all of those specialties available to them for referrals, and they felt very comfortable with that.”
The Harrison clinic was formerly aligned with another hospital. Dr. Chu said another benefit to his patients is a shorter drive to Baxter Regional, if needed. Baldwin said patients will see more fundamental changes immediately.
“Right off the bat, they’re going to notice they no longer have to sit in the parking lot and wait to be called to come into the building,” he said. “That was a restriction put on by the previous owners that, in our view, was an impediment to providing patient care on a friendly and productive basis. Now, patients can get out of the car, walk right in and they can use the waiting room, which wasn’t allowed previously.
“I also think patients will very much see some changes in customer service. In our orientation sessions with all the staff there, we have had very good sessions on how to relate to patients and how to work with customer issues in a polite, respectful, dignified manner.
“It’s been like a breath of fresh air,” Chu said. “Baxter Regional has basically come in and said, ‘Listen; patients aren’t coming to see Baxter Regional, they’re coming to see you. You need to take care of your patients the way you need to take care of them. And as long as you’re providing good, quality care, we’re going to support you.’”
Baldwin said Baxter Regional’s network of community clinics continues to be a big part of its brand, as it allows people access to care without traveling long distances. It’s also fueled the system’s growth as the brand-new Harrison location has already demonstrated.
“The icing on the cake is we’ve already added another physician,” he said. “Dr. Ron Revard, a general cardiologist and internal medicine doctor in Harrison, had expressed interest in the past of coming on with us. He’s now moved into the Crossroads building. That’s a welcome addition and just a small part of what we expect our presence in Harrison will bring in the years to come.”
