The New Ulm Medical Center’s new clinic, will open officially Nov. 1 with first medical appointments scheduled Monday, Nov.4.

That word came from Robert French, business manager of the new group of nine doctors who have pooled their resources and built an addition to the New Ulm Medical Center on the corner of Center and S. Garden.

French, who arrived here from Fairmont where he was a consultant in the dental and medical field, began work in New Ulm May 17 of this year.

The following doctors will be part of the clinic: Dr. William Black, Dr. Carl Fritsche, Dr. Milton Kaiser, Dr. Lawrence Ringhofer, Dr. P. J. Kitzberger, Dr. William Muesing, Dr. Ann Vogel, Dr. Howard Vogel and Dr. Robert Stein. Dr. C.A. Saffert will be renting facilities in the building and is not part of the group.

Another doctor, Dr. T. R. Fritsche, will also not belong to the group. “Dr. Fritsche is an ophthalmologist,” French explained.”Because of his specialty, he has elected not to join the group.”

Besides the 10 doctors, there will be a staff of about 30. This includes 10 nurses — three registered nurses and seven licensed practical nurses.

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THE CLINIC is actively recruiting doctors. “We have had many interested parties,” French commented. “We are interested in a number of doctors. Most are practicing physicians, plus several doctors in residency training.”

French added that as soon as the present group of doctors gets settled, additional doctors will be sought. “First we want to get settled,” French stated. “Then it depends on the doctor. If it’s in a specialty and we know it’s a field that will work out, we’ll get him started right away.”

According to French, one of the main reasons for forming the new group was to attract doctors to the town. “It’s been my experience that a group of two or three doctors has a great deal of difficulty attracting another doctor to a town,” French explained. “I know for a fact that by having a larger group of doctors say seven, eight or nine, you have a much better chance of getting new ones.”

French then gave some other reasons for the merging. “Better medical care is one reason. We can better use the talents and credits of current physicians into one group for easier consultation,” French stated.

He continued, “There are also a number of other reasons in medical practice where doctors need advice, consultation, sharing of expenses and supplies.”

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THE NEW CLINIC will be by appointment only and French also wished to clear up a few other misunderstandings.”A number of people have asked me if they will be able to see their own doctor and if they have to take any doctor we assign to them.

“Patients will still see their own doctors.All doctors will be seen by appointment only with the exception for one doctor who will handle emergency cases. We feel this is best because there are many persons who need to see a doctor immediately.”

Dr. Vogel will handle emergency visits.”However, if a person wants to see his own doctor in an emergency case, chances are he will still get to see him,” French explained.”But if he should be tied up for some reason, Dr. Vogel will see that person until the patient’s own doctor is free.”

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WITH THE addition, the clinic will now have 35 examination rooms. Plus there will be numerous lab, x-ray and treatment rooms. All available equipment will be moved from the other doctor’s offices, plus new and better equipment will also be purchased.

French gave an example:

“We will get better quality lab reports,”French stated.”By that I mean we can get them faster. Where much of the work done now is by the manual method, with the new automated equipment, we’ll get lab results many times faster and can give them to the doctor almost instantly.”

The building, which is much larger than it looks from the exterior also will have rental space on the lower level.

The main entrance to the clinic will be on Garden Street.

New Ulm Daily Journal

Oct. 6, 1974