Marshall opens new surgical center

THE NEW Marshall Specialty Care unit, which has a ribbon cutting and open house scheduled for May 17, includes facilities for Cardiology, General Surgery, Hearing and Rheumatology is located on the second floor of the Marshall Medical Center at 3501 Palmer Drive in Cameron Park. Democrat photo by Pat Dollins

Marshall Medical Center paid attention to the recommendations of focus groups on how they could improve services.

“We recognize that the growth in our county is towards Cameron Park and El Dorado Hills and we wanted to offer the same services we provide in Placerville,” said Rick Vance, vice president of Marshall Medical’s specialty care division. “We focused on the most in demand and utilized outpatient services.”

The Marshall Surgical Center building at 3501 Palmer Drive in Cameron Park houses a variety of speciality care offices, including cardiology rheumatology, an ear, nose and throat specialist and OB-GYN services, but the recent 1,500-square-foot expansion has added a hearing center and a general surgery with plans for additional services as doctors are recruited.

“”We’ve added procedure rooms, hearing rooms and physicians to this area, as well as all new equipment,” said  Cindy Garrett, director of Marshall Medical’s Physicians Clinics.”Being closer to where people live is important. Sometimes 10 to 12 miles makes a huge difference.”

“It’s a quick commute against the traffic,” added Vance.”Most of the doctors go back and forth, but as our volume grows, we will have doctors that are here full-time. Almost 25 percent of our cardiology patients are in Cameron Park and west. Our growth here just exploded when we moved a cardiology unit into Cameron Park.”

Vance said Marshall Specialty Care is very competitive with similar providers, such as Mercy Medical and Kaiser for the same services and is looking to expand their payor contracts.

In the new Hearing Center, Dodie McClintok, 82, said she has been a Marshall patient for many years.

“I remember when Marshall Hospital was first built, in 1959 or 1960,” said McClintok. “I owned Placer Finance in Placerville and I lived in Placerville, so I went to the doctors there. But now, I live in El Dorado Hills and this is wonderful, being able to come here.”

McClintok was visiting Dr. L. Mark Payne, an audiologist with offices in both Placerville and in the new Hearing Center in Cameron Park.

“This is fantastic — I finally have a window after 25 years,” said Payne of his new digs. He demonstrated one of the newest hearing assisted devices, a tiny computer link that fits deep inside the ear canal and is invisible to others. It  can stay inside the ear for two to three months and wearers can swim and shower with it in.

“Hearing problems aren’t an age-related thing,” said Payne. “There are many factors that cause hearing loss and people don’t want to be thought of as old because they wear a hearing device.”

Another big advantage to patients is the Specialty Care’s proximity to Marshall’s upper campus. Lab, diagnostic services, primary care physician offices, a Diabetes and Nutrition Center and a Cancer Center are a quick walk across the bridge connecting the two sets of buildings.

The current expansion is just the tip of the iceberg. In June, the new services will come on board with electronic medical records and plans have been made to build out the rest of the building.

“We are actively recruiting for a urologist and a pulmonalogist so we can add urology and pulmonary services here as well,” said Vance.

“Bringing services closer to people is a real testament to Marshall Medical that they are building that into their planning for the future,” said Carrie Poggio, marketing and community relations for Marshall Medical Center. “They’ve continued to expand throughout the financial ups and downs and to provide quality care throughout the county.”

An invitation only ribbon cutting ceremony and open house for Marshall Specialty Care will be held on May 17, but services are already open and available to patients.

Contact Wendy Schultz at 530 344-5069 or wschultz@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @wschultzMtDemo on Twitter.

THE NEW Marshall Specialty Care unit, which has a ribbon cutting and open house scheduled for May 17, includes facilities for Cardiology, General Surgery, Hearing and Rheumatology is located on the second floor of the Marshall Medical Center at 3501 Palmer Drive in Cameron Park. Democrat photo by Pat Dollins

ADMINISTRATORS — Marshall Medical Center Specialty Care Director Cindy Garrett, left, and Marshall Specialty Care Division Vice President Rick Vance compare notes while walking in a hallway at the new Marshall Specialty Care facility in Cameron Park. Democrat photo by Pat Dollins

AUDIOLOGIST Dr. Mark Payne adjusts a hearing device on 82-year-old patient Dodie McClintock in the new Marshall Specialty Care Hearing Center. Democrat photo by Pat Dollins

Wendy Schultz

Wendy Schultz has been a columnist for the Mountain Democrat since 2002 and a staff writer since 2005. She covers Placerville city events and City Council meetings, writes feature stories and reports on things of interest in El Dorado County.

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