By SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A new Hutchinson medical clinic is combining primary care with a broader approach to wellness, offering patients a setting designed to feel more like a conversation around the kitchen table than a traditional doctor’s office.
ARISE Medical & Wellness House celebrated its open house and ribbon cutting Friday at 1011 N. Main St. after operating for nearly three months. The clinic, founded by Dr. Rogena (Gena) Johnson, provides primary care for adults and children while also offering hormone replacement therapy, weight management programs and medical aesthetics.
The building also houses Second Muse Boutique, a clothing and accessories store featuring a combination of new and pre-owned items.
Johnson said the two businesses may seem like an unusual pairing at first, but both are rooted in the idea that wellness extends beyond a person’s medical chart.
“So much of becoming well has to do with so many different things,” Johnson said. “It could be what your blood pressure is. It could be how well you’re managing your cholesterol. It could be how well you’re managing your weight, and are you sleeping well? But also mental health and how you present yourself is a huge part of wellness.”
ARISE offers traditional primary care services, including annual visits, treatment for illnesses and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Johnson said she wants the clinic to emphasize collaboration, prevention and identifying factors that may contribute to a patient’s overall health.
Johnson is a traditionally trained medical doctor, but she said she is open to discussing complementary approaches when they can be used safely. That could include lifestyle changes, stress management or supplements in appropriate situations.
“There are lots of different ways, for example, to manage your blood pressure,” Johnson said. “It doesn’t just need to be a pill. Sometimes it has to be, but sometimes it has to do with other things, and we need to dig deeper to figure that out.”
The clinic also offers bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for men and women. Johnson said treatment options may include creams, lozenges, pellets, injections or gels, depending on the patient’s needs.
ARISE provides weight management programs that may include prescription medication. Johnson said the clinic plans to add in-house injectable options in July for patients who want additional guidance and support during treatment.
Johnson is also certified in medical aesthetics through the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine. Services include Botox, Juvéderm and chemical peels, with plans to potentially add laser treatments and other options in the future.
Johnson said she intentionally designed the clinic to feel relaxed and welcoming. Patients can have coffee or tea in the lobby, and the exam rooms include tables and chairs where Johnson can sit with patients during appointments.
“Instead of sitting on a rolling stool with my patient on an exam chair, I have a round kind of kitchen dinette-type table with chairs,” Johnson said. “We sit at the table together, and we have a conversation that’s collaborative about care.”
Johnson said patients have noticed the difference.
“Multiple people have said this just feels so much more relaxed,” Johnson said. “I’m sitting here chilling at the dining room table, just having a conversation with you.”
Second Muse Boutique is located in the back portion of the building. Johnson said the store grew out of her interest in fashion and sustainable shopping.
The boutique includes clothing, skin care products, jewelry and handbags. Johnson said the inventory includes items at a variety of price points and sizes, including pre-owned luxury handbags from brands such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci.
“I strongly believe in sustainable fashion, so keeping clothes out of landfills,” Johnson said. “I like to go thrifting and hunt for cool things that could be given a second home.”
Johnson said the boutique allows customers to find clothing and accessories that help them feel more confident, whether they stop in after an appointment or visit specifically to shop.
“To me, that’s part of wellness as well,” Johnson said. “It’s about external expression, which is part of wellness.”
Johnson said her long-term goal is to create a more comprehensive wellness destination in Hutchinson. She hopes the space can eventually include professionals offering services such as chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage therapy and other wellness-focused treatments.
“I really wanted the space to feel inviting, to feel relaxed,” Johnson said. “My whole goal eventually is working toward an all-encompassing wellness facility where I can have other professionals that work alongside me.”
Johnson is joined by licensed practical nurse Kaytlyn Johnson, medical assistant Kris DeBerry, business manager Matt Ford and part-time patient and billing services representative Amy Jones.
Johnson said Jones provides patients with a local point of contact if they have questions or concerns about medical billing.
“I really thought it was important to have a local person for my patients to talk to if they have a question about their bill, rather than calling a 1-800 number to someone I don’t know,” Johnson said.
A Hutchinson native, Johnson said ARISE is the result of her experiences in clinical care and hospital systems, along with her desire to build a practice centered on time, connection and whole-person wellness.
She said the clinic and boutique share a common purpose, helping people improve their health, rebuild confidence and feel comfortable beginning a new chapter in their lives.