THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 4, 1995 TAG: 9506020223
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
PHYSICAL THERAPISTS Patty Wray and Lucy White prefer patients to paperwork.
But in the eight years the two have owned and operated Smithfield Physical Therapy Associates, they have become increasingly bogged down with the administrative necessities of running a busy medical office: filing insurance claims, making appointments, billing patients and the like.
``We really wanted to devote more time to patient care, but we just were not able to do that anymore,'' Wray said in a recent interview. ``We realized we needed to join forces with someone who could take away the administrative headaches.''
On May 3, that someone was Obici Hospital.
The Suffolk hospital bought Smithfield Physical Therapy, at 917 S. Church St., for an undisclosed price. Wray and White, who met while working for the physical therapy department of Riverside Hospital in Newport News, will continue running the practice.
``Patty and Lucy approached us some months ago about buying the practice,'' Obici president William Giermak said. ``The purchase of Smithfield Physical Therapy will enhance our other investments in Smithfield and help us draw Suffolk and Smithfield medically closer together.''
Obici already owns 50 percent of the Smithfield Medical Center building, at 919 S. Church. Doctors in that practice own the other half of the property.
By leasing office space in the building to its doctors, the hospital has helped bring a variety of specialists - including a neurologist, gynecologist and dermatologist - into Isle of Wight County.
``Since our specialists started coming out here, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of patients we serve from Isle of Wight,'' Giermak said.
Wray and White say they focused on Obici as a buyer of their small practice because of that hospital's significant medical investments in the Isle of Wight community over the past five years.
``We felt like Obici shares our goal of wanting to serve an underserved area,'' Wray said.
Smithfield Physical Therapy's affiliation with Obici will make it easier for the therapists to stay abreast of the latest data and laws on infection control, Wray said. The practice's staff also will be able to take advantage of the hospital's medical library and employee training opportunities.
The hospital is prepared to invest in new equipment needed by Smithfield Physical Therapy, Giermak said. But patients won't see much other change, Wray said, adding there will be no changes in billing, costs or payment schedules.
``Our patients will continue to receive the same personalized care they always have,'' she said. ``In fact, it will probably be better because the hospital will be taking over a lot of headaches for the caregivers.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Patty Wray and her partner will continue to run Smithfield Physical
Therapy, which Obici Hospital bought.
by CNB