NEW MEDICAL FACILITY SET TO OPEN IN CAPE

A new medical facility, the Sprigg Street Medical Center, will open Tuesday at 24 N. Sprigg.

"The center is being opened to help meet a widely-recognized need for better medical access in this community," said Dr. William O.L. Seabaugh, a longtime physician who will manage the facility. "Physicians will be available at the center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily," he said.

Seabaugh, who retired from active practice recently, said that while trying to place patients with physicians he found that Medicaid patients often had no access and Medicare patients had limited access to medical attention.

"I started looking into some statistics," said Seabaugh. "The Bureau of Primary Care at the County Health Department reported that in 1991 there were more than 6,000 people eligible for Medicaid here.

"Only 141 physicians were listed, and of those only 30 were listed as performing general type medical practices," said Seabaugh. "The others were listed as specialists."

Doctors in Cape Girardeau treat patients from a wide area, said Seabaugh.

"I have talked with a number of people who are reluctant to seek care at an early stage of illness," said Seabaugh. "Many of these are Medicaid and Medicare patients. Some are uninsured and others are insured but have high deductibles.

"I felt that something had to be done to serve people who have limited access to medical care," said Seabaugh. "The new center will see Medicaid and Medicare patients. Claims will be filed. We'll see insured and uninsured patients. The uninsured will be charged a fee but it will be a reasonable fee."

Seabaugh said three physicians have agreed to staff the center at various times. They are: Dr. Robert George of Puxico; Dr. George Ringland of Cape Girardeau; and Dr. Walter H. Hutton of Jackson.

"Dr. George may be able to be available some evenings until about 9 p.m. He also has a clinic at Puxico," said Seabaugh. "We'll announce these evening hours later. The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the present time, Monday through Friday. Hutton will at the clinic Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

"Dr. Ringland will be at the center during the morning on Monday, Thursday and Friday and Dr. Hutton will start seeing patients Wednesday morning."

Also on the staff at the center is Faye Cunningham, a registered nurse who will serve as nurse co-ordinator. Physician assistants will include Pam Hicks and licensed practical nurse Virginia Robertson. LPN Maxine Scott of Chaffee will join the staff in the near future.

Margaret Phegley will serve as receptionist.