Cox Health to build super clinic in Republic

Groundbreaking on medical facility expected by end of month
 
Steve Chapman
Republic will most likely have a new medical clinic by late summer of 2021. Cox Health plans to break ground on a new super clinic in the city before the end of November. According to the Major Project Tracker on Republic’s website, the new clinic will be located at 3204 East Old Stone Road—on the southeast corner of the intersection of U.S. Highway 60 and Highway MM— where 15,185 square feet of commercial floor space on 1.94 acres of land. Cox has budgeted $5 million towards the clinic’s construction, and KCI has been named the project’s general contractor.
Max Buetow, vice-president with Cox Medical Group, described the services the new clinic will provide.
“The clinic in Republic will have a primary care phase with additional ambulatory services, physical therapy being one of them, lab, radiology, as well as a walk-in extended hours clinic,” he said.
Cox is building the new clinic, Buetow said, due to the increase in the number of people living in Republic.
“We’ve had a wonderful relationship with the city of Republic, and they’ve been excellent to help us with the planning of the new clinic,” he said. “We’re keeping trend and pace for community growth and where we see populations growing and needs for care growing.”
 Not only will the clinic be able to serve more people, Buetow said, but there is also a strong likelihood that it will bring more jobs to the area.
“We expect our team to probably double in size over the course of the next several years, and … we anticipate (adding) … an additional five (medical) providers, which will be physicians and advanced practice providers,” he said. “We’ll add probably 10 to 15 new jobs in addition to that.”
The new clinic is expected to be completed and ready for operations within 10 months after construction begins. Buetow said no decision has been made on what will be done with the old clinic after operations begin at the new one.
“We’re looking at several internal uses right now, but we’ve not (decided) on anything at this time,” he said.
One of the ways the new super clinic will best serve Republic, Buetow said, is with its walk-in clinic.
“The walk-in clinic is a great benefit to the community, and that will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” he said. “Anyone in the community can come in; you don’t have to be a patient of the clinic to access that clinic.”
Patients and their families will also be able to track available times at the clinic using Cox’s “Save My Spot” app, which Buetow said will allow them to cut down on wait times.
“You can see the availability to get an appointment there and wait at home if there is a little bit of a wait,” he said. “You don’t have to wait in the clinic.”