Franciscan Skemp to open PdC clinic

0 Comments | La Crosse Tribune, Jan 16, 1999

Franciscan Skemp Healthcare announced Friday it will build a new clinic in Prairie du Chien.

The 9,000-square-foot clinic will be located on five acres of land at 800 E. Blackhawk Ave., the intersection of Blackhawk Avenue and George Street, five blocks north of Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital.

Glenn Forbes, president and chief executive officer of Franciscan Skemp Healthcare based in La Crosse, said the new clinic has been part of the health care provider's strategic plan.

"Community members and employers have long encouraged us to add primary care services to Prairie du Chien, and this decision was made to better meet community health care needs," Forbes said. "We believe this medical practice will offer a new choice of providers and services to area businesses and residents."

Gary Koch, Prairie du Chien city administrator, said the city welcomes the clinic.

"It'll be an additional resource for health care. It'll help patients who now travel to Waukon or La Crosse. We're anxious to begin this relationship and hope it's a long-term one," Koch said.

Franciscan Skemp will be competing for patients in Prairie du Chien with Gundersen Lutheran, which has a clinic in the city. Seven family practice physicians, a general surgeon and an orthopedic surgeon and a physician assistant and nurse practitioners staff the Gundersen Lutheran clinic. Last year the clinic had 35,000 patient visits.

Dr. J. Alan Fleischmann, vice-president of medical affairs for regional services, said the Franciscan Skemp clinic will have two family practice physicians, a physician assistant and other allied health professionals.

The two physicians will be Michael Rogge and Robert Key, will graduate this year from La Crosse-Mayo Family Practice Residency Program.

Fleischmann said ground will be broken for the clinic in spring and the clinic should be open in the fall. He said physicians will have hospital privileges at Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital.

Prairie du Chien has had a shortage of physicians for some time, he said.

"The Prairie du Chien area can support two clinics," Fleischmann said. "It can support 13 physicians, and there have been only seven or eight. It has been an under served area."

Harold Brown, chief executive officer of the Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital, said the hospital views the new clinic "as a positive move for the economic viability of both the community and our hospital. Most of all, it provides the patients we now serve an additional source of healthcare services. The hospital views all health care providers as equal and pledges to work fairly and cooperatively with each of you."

Fleischmann said Prairie du Chien officials and residents invited Franciscan Skemp into the community and the health care provider has the support of the local hospital. People in the community will now have a choice of where to get their health care, Fleischmann said.

"We're interested in serving patients close to home," Fleischmann said. "It's the only community its size in the area, where we do not have a presence."

The new clinic will provide primary care and specialty outreach services, laboratory and X-rays. Fleischmann said the clinic will enhance existing Franciscan Skemp services in the Prairie du Chien area, including elder services, behavioral health services and specialty outreach services such as cardiology, allergy and pathology.

Bob Dillman, Crawford County Board chairman, said the clinic's presence in Prairie du Chien is a sign of growth and will be a benefit to the community.

"It's a very big step forward for us and I, too, want to welcome all you people here for being son interested in Prairie du Chien and Crawford County."