Every other week, Patients First Health Care's CEO, Joseph Gubbels, will
answer your questions. Please submit your questions to
ceoquestions@patientsfirsthc.com.
Please check back each week to see if your question was chosen.
Is Patients First opening any new offices this Fall?
–Steve, Washington, MO
Actually, just this week we opened an office in Eureka. THe new facility has and urgent care as well as a pediatrician and family medicine physician.
We are also planning to introduce a new office in Kirkwood. Kirkwood Medical Group has agreed to join Patients First, effective January 1, 2011.
Past Questions
How many specialties does Patients First offer?
–Liz, New Haven, MO
Patients First Health Care currently offers 19 specialties (to see them all, click here) and we are adding more all the time. We have recently hired a new allergist, Dr. Jeremy Katcher, who will be starting at the beginning of August. check back regularly for more updates.
Why are you building a new hospital?
–Joan, Washington, MO
The fact is: our patients have continually asked us to build our own hospital and, in light of the fact that some of our doctors are prevented from seeing their own patients at the other local hospital, it was a perfect time to establish this commitment to our community.
We do not believe a hospital system should force patients to choose between their local hospital and their trusted doctors. That is why we have chosen to build a hospital where all doctors will be welcome to see and treat patients, regardless of their other affiliations. Read our release here.
When is the new cancer center opening?
–Rob, St. Clair, MO
Our new, state-of-the-art Cancer Center will be completely open in the next couple of months. We are excited that Dr. Isaac Cohen and, soon, Dr. Michael Van Tuyl, are joining the Cancer Center team. Both physicians bring a tremendous amount of experience and compassion to the organization.
I read that the Patients First cardiologists can't see patients
at St. John's [Mercy Hospital]. How does this affect me?
–Jeff, Union, MO
While it is true that the Patients First cardiology team can no
longer see or treat patients at St. John’s Mercy Hospital, this
change will not affect your overall care. The Patients First
cardiology team is currently on staff at SSM St. Clare Health
Center and all major procedures are now performed there. In
addition, the cardiology team is still based at the Patients
First Washington campus and is available to you 24/7 either
through a regular appointment or on the after-hours emergency
line, (636) 239-0805. For a more detailed explanation, please read our release on the St. John’s Mercy Hospital decision.
What new services is the expanded Washington campus going to offer?
–Elsie, Washington, MO
Our newly expanded Washington campus will be offering a full-service
cancer treatment center and an out-patient surgery center; two services
we did not previously offer. In addition, we are expanding our
existing sleep lab to include 6 beds and adding new specialties during
the first half of the year.