Homer Medical Clinic expansion complete

Homer Medical Center recently expanded its primary care clinic, South Peninsula Hospital announced in a press release this week.

The expansion adds 5,584 square feet and includes seven new exam rooms, a procedure room, a phlebotomy draw room, and a lab and imaging rooms. The clinic holds an open house on Friday, March 30.

The expansion, funded by the community through the Kenai Peninsula Borough South Kenai Peninsula Hospital Service Area, allows more office and exam space so the clinic can hire additional practitioners to help address the growing demand for primary care on the southern peninsula. As a result, two new providers have been added since the expansion completed, and at least one more is scheduled to begin this summer.

Lisa Milam, Doctor of Nursing Practice, joined the team in January. She is an Acute Care Nurse practitioner board certified in adult gerontology, with her specialty focusing on adult and elderly care and matters related to end of life. She works with individuals to determine treatment to help optimize rest, less pain and continued quality of life.

She will be expanding the wound care program at the clinic. Milam relocated with her husband and three children from Richmond, Virginia.

Matthew Webb, Family Nurse Practitioner, is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in Family Practice. Webb joined the team last month from Georgia, but had recently been in Fairbanks where he earned his associate’s degree in Emergency Medical Services from University of Alaska Fairbanks. He completed his Nurse Practitioner training at South University in Savannah, Georgia. Webb is now seeing patients of all ages as part of the provider team approach to care supported by Patient Centered Medical Home. The addition of more providers allows the clinic to now offer same-day appointments, which weren’t always available before.

Additionally the clinic offers an evening walk-in clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The clinic is open to any patient regardless of their ability to pay. Increased access to care was one of the top needs identified in two of the three recent community health needs assessments conducted by MAPP of the Southern Kenai Peninsula, the local community health coalition. This expansion is but one way the hospital is responding to identified needs.

Homer Medical Center is a partner with South Peninsula Hospital, a three-time top 100 critical access hospital. Homer Medical provides primary care, well women’s care, ob/gyn, pediatrics, behavioral health, travel medicine and walk-in care.