Staff writer
The staff of Medical Plaza of Hillsboro began introducing themselves to the surrounding community Friday, with an open house at their location at 122 N. Main St.
Dr. Brett Nedich and Nurse Practitioner Kari Bell welcomed interested members of the community to come and get to know staff members, then spoke with Chamber of Commerce members Tuesday at the chamber’s monthly luncheon. The Medical Plaza, which operates through Newton Medical Center, opened Monday.
Chris Kelly, director of business development, said that, in addition to expanding their presence in the area, there is a need for a primary carrier in town that does not force patients to leave town.
“I think you do a better service to the people in the community when you actually bring care to them,” he said. “A community that doesn’t have a strong health care base is in danger, so we’re happy to be here, provide care for the community, and do our part to keep them healthy.”
Nedich works with internal medicine, and Bell provides family medicine. The Medical Plaza is open five days a week, and while Bell will work full-time, Nedich will divide his time between Newton and Hillsboro.
“We want to help improve baseline health and prevent disease from occurring, and then manage disease appropriately when it does,” Nedich said. “But I also want people to gain a sense of care and concern that we have for our patients.”
Lab tests are also available if necessary.
“It’s the patient’s choice on where they go,” Kelly said. “If we can do it here and help them out, then we’ll do it here.”
The staff also will be working on opening a new clinic at the location of a former hotel next to the Wendy’s on D St. There is no set date yet, but groundbreaking is expected to occur next spring, and construction should finish during the summer.
The future hospital will be at least two times bigger than the current location.
“We’d like to in the future, bring up some other specialties from Newton that actually cycle through Hillsboro,” Kelly said. “So rather than patients being stuck having to go elsewhere for their care, they can stay here.”