NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Dr. Rogena Johnson's new family practice clinic is up and running at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.
"We actually just this Monday started seeing patients," Johnson said. "We are working inside the hospital on the third floor, unit 3100, which we've remodeled for primary care. Right now, it's just myself and five of my staff members and we're seeing patients in family medicine and primary care."
Johnson will also serve as Chief Clinical Officer for Hutchinson Regional, and the intent is for the family practice clinic to expand.
"Somewhere between 800 and 1500 patients per practitioner is an average," Johnson said. "Depending on the health status of patients, it might be 2000 patients."
Right now, Johnson is still taking new patients, but they are already looking for more providers.
"The gauge that I kind of use, instead of just the number, like capping it at 800 or 1200, is how far out patients are booked," Johnson said. "If someone calls in and they have to wait, the next available is three or four weeks, that's not preferable to most people. Then, we know we're at a point where we need to add a new provider. I will say, up front, when patients are coming in, they need more time for their visit, since they are a new patient at that practice. In the beginning, we might be booked out a little bit further, but six months down the road from now, we should kind of be at the point where people could get in within a couple of weeks."
For more information, call (620) 513-4850.