Genesis opens new clinic in Coshocton
COSHOCTON − Genesis HealthCare System has opened a second clinic in Coshocton as it nears completion of its new hospital. Officials said it's to fill a vital need they see for personal medical care.
A ribbon cutting and grand opening was held Tuesday for the Genesis Physician Services office, 23599 Airport Road. The event featured statements by Dr. Scott Wegner, chief medical officer and president of the Genesis Medical Group, and Chris Schoelles, chief operating officer of the Genesis Physician Network.
This compliments the Genesis Coshocton Family Practice opened in January 2021 at 410 Main St. The new clinic is also near Genesis Coshocton Medical Center, on track to open in April 2023 and employ more than 200 people. Patients from both clinics will be referred to the medical center when needed.
Wegner said services are similar to the Main Street clinic, but it was about expanding capacity to take more patients while offering easier access to residents on the east end of Coshocton County and even into Tuscarawas County. The new clinic will also offer some specialties like occupational health, genecology and orthopedics, plus general surgery.
Wegner is a practicing oncologist in Zanesville, along with his other duties, and he has several patients who are thrilled to be able to get Genesis services in Coshocton. Schoelles, who lives in Dover, said he's heard a lot of people in his area excited for the new clinic and hospital as well.
"We know there just aren't enough primary care doctors. We felt if we were really going to help medical care access for patients in this community, we really need place a heavy stake in primary care," Wegner said. "We know there are already high quality primary care physicians in Coshocton. We're not here to take away business. We just know there are many, many underserved people who need access."
The new clinic has 15 exam rooms, a laboratory, X-ray room, spot for Telehealth appointments and more. The building formerly housed Peebles department store. Wegner said this is a new design from other Genesis clinics, but it's still has the Genesis look of bright lights and wooden floors.
"It's to be more of a front door to the front door," Schoelles said on what the clinic offers. "The main hospital when it opens across the street will be taking a lot of out-patient work as well, but this will feed a lot of that work across the street."
The clinic will employ about 30 to 40 people once at full staff, including up to six primary physicians. Dr. Sameera Rahman and Dr. Audrey Onuzo will start soon and Dr. Elisa Sadoun is seeing patients now.
Sadoun attended Ohio State University and finished her residency in 2011. She was a stay-at-home mom for nine years before pursuing her medical career and sympathizes with those who feel like a victim of the health care system and say doctors don't listen. Sadoun sees from newborns to seniors and is board certified in obesity medicine.
"I really believe the relationship between a human being and their doctor is one of equals. I'm here to provide my expertise, but to come up with a diagnosis and plan, my job is to listen," Sadoun said. "If somebody is concerned about their health. They're having a problem they're concerned about, then I'm concerned and I won't stop investigating it until we come to a conclusion."
Genesis Physician Services can be reached at 740-722-9510 with new patients being accepted. More services and providers are expected to be added in the coming months. The office is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with close tom 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on Twitter at @llhayhurst.
This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Genesis opens new clinic in Coshocton
