Beech Tree News Network

Although the name on the sign is different, you will see familiar faces when you walk through the doors at the new Fairview Community Health Center. In early March, the Morgantown branch of Fairview Community Health Center joined forces with the private practice of Dr. J. Todd Douglas in an effort to better serve the citizens of Butler County. During the merge, A.P.R.N. Donna Curry and staff moved into Dr. Douglas' office located at 205 East Ohio St.

"Basically the two offices have just merged," said Dr. Douglas, "All of our employees are still here and all of their employees are now here. Their staff is working alongside our staff taking care of our former patients as well as the patients that they had previously."

"Patients coming in are going to see a familiar face when they come to the window whether they were a patient of Dr. Douglas' or a patient at Fairview," said Cyndi Burden, office manager.

Prior to the merger, Dr. Douglas' practice primarily saw patients with insurance, Kentucky Medicaid, or Medicare according to Burden. She says that being under the label of non-profit, as Fairview is, allows them to now see patients who are uninsured. Fairview offers sliding fee scales to reduce costs for uninsured patients as well as the indigent drug program to help get patients get medicine at a reduced cost to them. A voucher program is also available to the uninsured, if they qualify, to helps patients get medicines at a discounted rate according to billing manager Melinda Renfrow.

"We can serve everyone now, regardless of their ability to pay," said Burden.

Dr. Douglas added, "Fairview seems to have a really good program in place for helping the under-insured and making their care that much more affordable."

Another benefit of the merger is that Fairview has access to a Spanish translator through their home office in Bowling Green. Renfrow says that this is a necessity with the growing Hispanic population.

"I think it's going to benefit Butler County as a community to have a doctor and a nurse practitioner serving them," said Renfrow.

Dr. Douglas added that the merger gives him "an opportunity to focus more on seeing patients and less on having to manage the day to day affairs of the practice."

The hours for Fairview Community Health Center are 8-5 Monday thru Friday; the office is open from 12-1 but they do not see patients during this time. The number to reach Fairview Community Health Center at is (270) 526-2145.