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River Hills and Ottumwa Regional Initiate Pediatric Care Expansion (OTTUMWA – May 13, 2010) An innovative partnership between River Hills Community Health Center and Ottumwa Pediatrics, which is part of Ottumwa Regional Health Center, was so successful during 2008 that plans have been developed to further expand the relationship into a more comprehensive and permanent arrangement to better serve the children of southeast Iowa. The partnership will provide increased access to quality pediatric primary health care services regardless of insurance coverage. “This is a milestone in healthcare evolution as we bring government and private businesses together to better serve the area,” said River Hills CEO, Rick Johnson. Effective June 1, 2010 the Ottumwa Pediatrics Clinic will become a clinic of River Hills Community Health Center and will be owned and operated by River Hills instead of Ottumwa Regional Health Center. Physicians, Jay Heitsman, Donalee Foster, and John Wilson will be employed by River Hills, as well as ARNPs Greg Titus and Teresa Schenck. The practice will remain at 931 Pennsylvania Avenue on the Ottumwa Regional Health Center campus. Dr. Heitsman, Pediatrician, commented, “This is an expansion of services for River Hills and a definite comprehensive care advantage for pediatric patients and their families, as River Hills also offers Family Practice, OBGYN and Dentistry services at their Market Street location in Downtown Ottumwa.” Currently River Hills Community Health Center is working jointly with Ottumwa Regional Health Center on the recruitment of additional Pediatricians and Family Practice Physicians for both of the River Hills clinic sites in Ottumwa. Two additional pediatricians will join River Hills in late July. They are Dr. Sanjay Akangire and Dr. Archana Kulkarni, a married couple. “It’s all about two organizations doing the right thing for the community,” said Tom Siemers, President and CEO of Ottumwa Regional Health Center. As a federally qualified Community Health Center, River Hills provides a sliding fee scale for uninsured patients, which is based on the family's monthly gross income and the federal poverty guidelines. In addition, River Hills accepts Iowa Medicaid, Medicare, HAWK-I, and private insurance plans. Like Ottumwa Regional Health Center, River Hills serves eight counties in southeast Iowa: Wapello, Davis, Appanoose, Monroe, Mahaska, Keokuk, Jefferson, & Van Buren counties. Both organizations are very excited about an additional community clinic site in Ottumwa to serve more pediatric patients in the eight county area. For additional information you may contact Dallas Black, Clinic Manager, for Ottumwa Pediatrics Clinic at 641-684-3000 or Rick Johnson, CEO, for River Hills at 641-684-6896 with questions. |
