Northwest Physicians Group aims to make primary care easy for Amarillo

Jordan Gipson, Amarillo Globe-News
·2 min read

On Friday, Northwest Physicians Group cut the ribbon to debut their new primary care center.

“We want to make it easy for patients to access primary care. If that is through same day sick visits, scheduling an appointment online, or calling the clinic," said April Almond-Diaz, Market Director for Northwest Physicians group. “There is a huge shortage of primary care physicians in not only the area, but nationwide. Northwest saw the need to fill that gap so we decided we would build a group of primary care physicians and opening this new facility has made it possible.”

Seven of the eight physicians that are bringing the panhandle a breathe of fresh air in the new Northwest Physicians group Primary Care Center.
Seven of the eight physicians that are bringing the panhandle a breathe of fresh air in the new Northwest Physicians group Primary Care Center.

A primary care physician helps navigate the patients throughout the health care system by making appropriate referrals, getting them the needed higher level of care, and building a relationship with the patient to provide the care needed.

“Our goal is to take care of the patients' whole family,” said April.

This state-of-the-art Primary care center can see around 200 patients a day offering on site X-rays and labs, as well as extended hours.

“Northwest is really pushing primary care as a way to provide better entry into the healthcare system so that patients don’t have to rely on emergency room visits and urgent care centers. This enables access to all the other areas of healthcare without all the added frustration,” said John Slaton, DO, family medicine physician.

The old vault room that has been transformed to provide patient care.
The old vault room that has been transformed to provide patient care.

According to reports, studies show a growing shortage of primary care physicians. According to a report from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), there is projection of between 17,800 and 48,000 primary care physicians in the United States. The Texas Hospital Association also reports critical shortages for the Texas Panhandle.

The following board-certified physicians will be located at the Northwest Physicians Group Primary Care Center:

Sean Daniel Anderson, MD

Shyla Arismendez, MD

Susan Goetz, MD

Koley C. Pack, MD

Steven B. Rossi, MD

John F. Slaton, DO

Crystal L. Stewart, MD

Seth Wilhelm, MD

Over the next two weeks the finishing touches will be added to the building and the center will take their first patients on Dec. 19.

For more information on each physician and the new Primary Care Center visit: https://nwtpg.com/

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Northwest Physicians Group aims to make primary care easy for Amarillo