FORT SMITH (KFSM) - Mercy serves almost 500,000 people around Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma. Due to the recent growth in the area, doctors need more room to see more patients.
A new Mercy Pediatric Clinic is going to be opening along South 70th Street. The facility is going to have more exam rooms and better parking for the patients. Their goal is to make going to the doctor easier for mom's by providing a single level facility with a convenient parking lot, and even an awning where patients can be dropped off.
On the inside of the building, they will have 17 exam rooms and a much larger lobby. A total of five physicians will be making the move over to the new building from their current facility along Rogers Avenue. The old clinic was on the second level of the physicians office and didn't have enough room to see their patients.
Doctors will be using some of the current clinical equipment from the old location, but will have all new furniture and computers.
With doctors seeing more than a hundred patients a day, the need for more space was a necessity. "It gives each physician three exam rooms and gives us space to grow," said Dr. Cole Goodman, Mercy President. He adds, "There's enough room for one more physician."
According to Dr. Goodman, "There's a need for pediatrics in this community and we're trying to meet that need."
Walk-ins will also be available at the new location. With more space, they'll be able to see a larger amount of patients.
"They will have better access, not only to the physicians themselves, but better access to the building," said Dr. Goodman.
The last day for patients to visit the current location on Rogers Avenue is Thursday (Oct. 27). Then the new facility on South 70th Street will open on Monday (Oct. 31).
Mercy will be hosting a community open house on December 6th to celebrate the new location.