Seemingly, it is a positive change toward the betterment and re-establishment of healthcare in DeKalb County, Tennessee.
As with most anything in today’s world, things change and memories remain. Time stops for no one or for nothing, no matter how hard or how inevitable it remains.
This change applies to the local Family Medical Center, now a new acquisition of Crossroads Medical Group, which currently leaves residents in the plus category for improvements with more varied services and notifications. It’s a “win-win” order of ownership. It sounds effective and welcoming. It’s technologically efficient and productive.
In a recent interview with Vice President of Development, Conor Pocino of the purchasing corporation, he said that one of the most important implementations and finalizations and the primary reason within the purchase agreement was the reinstatement of the current physicians, who have been the healthcare providers for many persons for many years – in-house and externally.
“This,” said Pocino, “was the major reason in purchasing and sustaining the 40+ year-old local business. We wanted the doctors to remain at the clinic.” Summarily, this was the major question stemming from many local patients’ queries.
Of note, the three physicians returning to offer their past-medical services are Doctors Hugh Don Cripps, Jack Randall Rhody and William H. Sherwood. Along with two imported nurse practioners, Debby Smith and Laura Snow, they will be joined by long time employees Natalie Gilley and Deborah Haggard. Dr. Doug G. Hooper has retired from practicing medicine and Dr. Kevin Rhody is now affiliated with Saint-Thomas DeKalb Hospital in Smithville, Tennessee as an in-house physician.
The county-wide rumor that the three physicians and the four nurse practioners were no longer accepting new patients is a misnomer. All the doctors and the nurse practioners ARE accepting new patients, according to Picono and to their website.
More good news is that the medical service price amounts for one visit will be the same as beforehand and all insurances will be accepted, including all of Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross and Cigna, among many others.
A minor scheduling difference is the operating days and hours. Since its acquisition, the Center now is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. It will be closed Saturdays and Sundays. If employed during these times, amends will have to be made within their frameworks for personal appointment times. Ironically, these are the same scheduling figures as offered by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
For brevity, the following are the operating hours for the newly-acquired Family Medical Center: Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday
“Crossroads began ownership the week of January 6 and has been fully implementing electronic systems over the past two weeks. We are now operating at full capacity/open schedule and excited to welcome existing and new patients to the practice,” said Pocino.
In an interview last Tuesday, Michiko Howard Martin, the overall manager of the former and re-established Family Medical Center answered the question about retaining former employees, “The new employees have been very supportive and offer a lot of resources to make our day-to-day jobs a lot easier. We will still have our laboratory/x ray services – everything offered before.”
Additionally, Martin added “With the larger company, we can offer a more robust benefits package to our employees.”
On the Crossroads Medical Group website, the following is listed as services now offered at the Center. Of local interest, one can request an appointment from their website for his/her convenience. They list sick and preventative care as their top medical priorities. The father-company is listed on the United States Stock Market.
Furthermore, they list their services and treatments as:
• Annual wellness visits
• Chronic care management
• Immunizations, including COVID-19 and Influenza
• Laboratory and testing
• Physicals
• Sick visits
• Specialty care referrals
In another appropriate vessel, the following answers are provided by the new Family Medical Center for your knowledge and observation:
• Do you accept walk-in appointments? Yes. All of our Crossroad’s locations throughout the state accept walk-ins.
• How should I prepare for my visit? If you are an existing patient, prior to your appointment, you will receive a text link to review your demographic information, upload your insurance card and identification, and complete registration. This will ensure you are ready to be checked in upon arrival at the Clinic.
• Please bring the following to your first appointment – Insurance card and identification and a list of your current medications. Within the context of this answer is the following applicable statement:
“We strive to stay on schedule to minimize wait times and maximize the time spent addressing your medical needs. If you are unable to attend your appointment, call our office as soon as possible, so we can offer your slot to another patient in need. If you are more than 15 minutes late, you will be asked to reschedule your appointment.”
• Crossroads Medical Group currently offers the following immunizations:
COVID-19; Hepatitis A, B, and for children; Varicella; Polio; MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella), Meningococcal; Tdap; Tetanus; Dtap; TB skin test; Prevnar 13; Pneumococci 23; Flu; and Flu 65+.
• Crossroad’s offers all major insurance providers, including Medicaid. Their advice is “You should always check with your health plan to verify the plan and product coverage as insurance plans change frequently.
• Persons can access their medical records and history “by submitting an online medical record authorization through the MediCopy website at www.medicopy.net/patients. Use the top right “Request Records” button on the website. You also can mail the Medical Records Request form to: MediCopy, 8 City Blvd., Suite 400, Nashville, TN 37209. To telephone the company, dial: 866-587-6274.
• Of utmost importance, Regarding transportation and in further consultation, Pocino released the following statement from his company’s Clinic Manager: “While the clinic does not directly offer transportation services, we encourage patients to check with their insurance plan regarding potential benefits/transport services (including Tenncare), as some plans will cover transportation to medical appointments in the event that a patient has no other means of transportation.
“Additionally, we encourage patients needing transport to look into further community resources, such as UCHRA, which offers limited transportation services in other counties.” The DeKalb County UCARTS telephone number is 615-597-4504.
Another asset in the transfer of power was the availability of upgrading into a more efficient digital format or an online format. Patients will be able to call the Clinic and obtain the results for various laboratory testing, most of which currently is on line. If you are unknowledgeable with computers, ask for help from any member of the younger generation, whom seem to be technological fluent.
The deed of sale and the purchase price have not been disclosed. The new name is the Family Medical Center – A Crossroad’s Clinic. The purchaser’s headquartered location is in White House, Tennessee. The businesses transfer of power began on January 1, 2025, according to Pocino.
On another note, “I’m really excited about this opportunity for our community to continue to provide the same outstanding health care that we’ve always been known to provide.” Howard concluded.
Our community of patients is our top priority, said Pocino. The following are comments from patients who previously were cared for at the Family Medical Center:
• Luis Garcia yelled, “Best Clinic in Tennessee!”
• Brad Fulcher commented, “Overall – great experience!”
• “Best place to go for all your medical needs. Awesome doctors and Nurse Practioners,” remembered Rhonda Thomas.
• Alyssa Conger “Loves Family Medical Center! The doctors, nurses, and nurse practioners are all phenomenal!”
• Chad Avant said “Waiting to see a doctor or nurse takes a little while but the staff is very friendly.”
The Center is located at 302 North Congress Blvd., Smithville, TN. Phone number is: 615-597-4395 and fax is: 615-597-4393. Crossroads Medical Group can be found independently on Facebook and on www.CrossroadsMedicalGroup.com.
In Middle Tennessee, there are 10 Crossroads walk-in clinics scattered among various terrains.
In conclusion, sometimes, change is a good thing, especially when your health or your life is in the balance. Maybe Ralph Marston said it best many years ago: “What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.”
