Clinic Opening Delayed
Posted on Tuesday, May 28th, 2024
Clinic Reopening Delayed
But Patients and Doctors Still Interacting
The Mercy Health Love County Clinic did not reopen as planned on May 28. The hospital issued a Facebook release last Thursday stating:
"We are sorry to inform you that during the process of readying the clinic to reopen, we found additional storm-related damage.
"In order to provide a safe clinic setting for our patients and coworkers, we are addressing these newly-found issues. Until the time we can fully reopen we can offer you a virtual visit with your provider.
"The clinic continues to be staffed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. to answer phone calls and address your concerns.
"Do not hesitate to contact us at (580) 276-2400. Thank you for your patience and grace during this challenging time."
The Hospital's Facebook address is "Mercy Health Love County 73448."
The Hospital’s Website address is “Mercyhealthlovecounty.com.”
While the clinic staff and patients of the clinic are anxious for face-to-face visits to resume, the parties have been in constant contact since the April 27 tornado that badly damaged the hospital but left the adjoining clinic largely intact.
By the following Monday, clinic and hospital telephones were back up. Patients have been able to call their clinician or interact through virtual visits, even as repairs got underway at the clinic building.
The providers, Dr. Stephen Hutchins, Medical Director; Dr. Terry Jones; Dr. Stacy Goode; Dr. Jordan Paslay; and Family Nurse Practitioners Patricia Owens and Nikki Barker have been serving their regular patients.
They have been refilling prescriptions and ordering tests and specialist care as usual.
Dr. Hutchins made 100 patient visits in May to nursing home residents who have been relocated to Ardmore, Madill, and Tishomingo. Other providers have made house calls or engaged in telephone conversations, or in virtual visits through the Internet.
“We all prefer face-to-face care,” Dr. Hutchins said.
For now, laboratory testing is being referred to DLO Laboratory at 107 N. Commerce, Ardmore. Radiology testing is being referred to Mercy Hospital Ardmore at N. Commerce and 14th Ave.
Both of these locations are a few blocks from grocery stores, such as Homeland and Walmart that will be visited by Love County residents until the Marietta Homeland can be rebuilt.
Caption: Mercy Health Love County Medical Director Dr. Stephen Hutchins chats with office nurses Kellie Westra, LPN, and Kim Shepard, CMA, on May 17. They are anxious for in-person patient visits to resume at the Clinic adjoining the hospital.
