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| Children
are often afraid of the doctor. After all, needles hurt, and sometimes
their memories of going to see a doctor aren’t pleasant experiences
for them. I was at Plum Creek Medical Family Practice and Urgent Care
Center in Castle Rock recently, and I actually saw a little girl giggle.
Dr. Jack England came out into the waiting room, bent down to look her
in the eyes, and said, “You can’t leave until I see your
ears wiggle.” The little girl hugged her mother and shyly giggled.
I didn’t miss the smile on her mother’s face, either. Who are we kidding here? We can all be afraid of the doctor. It seems that having someone who can make us smile or even giggle might just make going to the doctor a little easier. It seems that’s what Dr. England and the staff at Plum Creek strive to do. They aim to make going to the doctor a pleasant experience, and one they try to help people avoid by teaching them preventative care for no extra charge. Plum Creek sees over 30,000 patients a year, and Dr. England says they manage their clinic with compassion by caring about a patient’s emotional and physical needs. Plum Creek Medical offers free patient education classes about diabetes, with plans to include cholesterol and heart disease classes this year. The old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” comes to mind since yearly physicals and well checkups often diagnose potential problems before they become serious issues. “We are committed to the pursuit of providing the most up-to-date medicine for our patients, including preventive health care for the entire family,” says Mary England, Dr. England’s daughter, who is the practice administrator. Mary says the difference between Plum Creek and other medical clinics is their ability to give exceptional care all in one location. The Urgent Care Center is equipped to detect heart attacks and other life-threatening conditions. They also have a full-service lab for quicker test results, as well as a support staff of close to 40 Castle Rock residents who provide the clinic with a connection to the community that can be vital to any local business. Dr. England informed me he is board certified in family practice, double board certified in emergency medicine, and is also certified in Level II worker’s compensation. He is the founder of the Rocky Mountain Emergency Physicians, and he ran three emergency rooms in Denver for 21 years before he decided to commit his passion for medicine and people to Castle Rock in 1991. He and his wife, Lory, have lived in Castle Rock for 30 years. Plum Creek has been caring for the residents of Castle Rock for over 22 years. Mary says having one place to see a doctor for a routine visit and also have emergency services available is both convenient and sometimes medically necessary. Sometimes a patient who does not seem critical may become seriously ill and require cardiac monitoring, IV fluids, medication, X-rays, or complicated lab tests, which can all be done in-house. The fact that Plum Creek can do this at a fraction of the cost of an emergency room visit is one of the reasons Dr. England says he sees this setup as part of the future of medicine. Plum Creek can take care of complex lacerations and stabilize and cast fractures. Other high-tech equipment used for more comprehensive care includes a stress treadmill machine; a Dexa Scan for osteoporosis; IMT carotid artery scans; EKG’s; quick lab tests for complete blood work including kidney, liver, blood sugar, electrolytes, and CBC (Complete Blood Count); tests for mononucleosis and strep; and tests for ulcers, influenza, and urine infections. Dr. England goes on to say that Plum Creek saves its patients money by providing its services at a lower cost than emergency rooms do. “The same X-ray that costs $666 in an ER can cost as little as $61 here,” Mary shares. Some patients who are uninsured find this a compelling reason to come to Plum Creek for care. “Unless you’re admitted to the hospital, some insurance plans don’t cover you until you meet your deductibles, and that can cost the patient a lot of out-of-pocket money.” She adds that Plum Creek’s services are on average 20% to 25% less than at an emergency room. The clinic also has a wing of the building that is rented to nine specialists for convenience and direct contact among providers in ear, nose and throat, cardiology, obstetrics and gynecology, allergy and asthma, podiatry, urology, general surgery, spine, and orthopedics. When a patient is referred to a specialist, they can see the specialist on-site right at the same location. “The convenience and complete care in pediatrics, men’s and women’s health issues, and entire families are the heart of Plum Creek Medical,” says Mary. The staff and doctors at Plum Creek are proud of the clinic’s awards in the community. They were voted “Best of the Best Urgent Care” for Douglas County in both 2007 and 2008. They were also voted “Best of the Best Pediatricians” for 2008. The staff and doctors are active in the community, and recently participated as an office in the Relay For Life. They raised close to $5000 for cancer research. “We truly care about the community and want to give back whenever we can,” Mary shares. Dr. England has been with Plum Creek Medical for over 20 years and recently bought the practice. He has owned and managed it now for over a year and a half. He says he has been able to add a personal touch to the clinic and make much-needed improvements that give it a warm and inviting atmosphere. Plum Creek currently has three other family practice doctors on staff in addition to Dr. England, including Dr. Jane Ruger, Dr. Christopher A. Carpenter, and Dr. Brett Walker. Dr. Ruger has a special interest in pediatrics and women’s health. Dr. Carpenter has internal medicine skills and special interests in cardiology and diabetes. Dr. Walker has a special interest in sports medicine and is experienced in all aspects of family practice and urgent care. There is also a physician’s assistant, Michael J. Schneider, who Mary says is known for his excellent work with adults and children; and Certified Family Nurse Practitioner Kristyn M. Everett, who enjoys working with adolescents and women’s health care issues. She is fluent in Spanish and uses her bilingual ability to serve Spanish-speaking patients. Plum Creek is located at 410 S. Wilcox St. in Castle Rock. Same-day appointments can be made, and most insurance plans are accepted. The Urgent Care Clinic provides quick access to care for minor acute illness and trauma between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. No appointment is necessary for urgent care. For more information about the free classes offered and other services at Plum Creek Medical Family Practice and Urgent Care Clinic, visit their Web site at www.plumcreekmedical.com. or call 303-688-6900. |
Plum Creek Medical Family Practice |
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