New Clinic Aims to Offer Comprehensive Women’s Health Care
By Terry Rindfleisch, La Crosse Tribune, Wis.
Mar. 2–About five years ago, Dr. Karen Keil thought about opening her own private practice and clinic devoted to comprehensive women’s health care. Then an obstetrician-gynecologist at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare, Keil envisioned a small and more personal, private clinic where she could spend more time with her patients.
Keil, who received her medical degree and served a residency at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said three of her fellow residents opened their own ob-gyn clinic in Madison.
“They managed to do it in a very competitive environment, and they were happy and doing well in a competitive market,” she said. “They really encouraged me to do the same.”
Keil, a Franciscan Skemp physician for 10 years, opened her own clinic, Keil Clinic, on Jan. 28 on Copeland Avenue near Festival Foods in La Crosse.
The clinic occupies 5,000 square feet on the second floor of the Spencer Building in a spacious, comfortable setting.
The clinic is the first new privately-owned medical clinic in La Crosse in many years. In La Crosse, most physicians are part of the Gundersen Lutheran and Franciscan Skemp group practices which see thousands of patients every year. “Private practice is common in other parts of Wisconsin, and throughout the country, but La Crosse has always been a group practice town,” Keil said. “Private practices are rare around here.
“I wanted a more personal, comfortable and confidential clinic,” she said. “I didn’t always have the time I wanted with my patients. In this clinic, we want to spend more time with patients and hopefully get to know our patients better. Patients also will have better access to their provider.”
Keil said she knew she faced barriers in putting together her own clinic such as getting insurers on board and attracting patients as well as renovating space and spending $500,000 to $1 million in equipment.
She has worked out insurance contracts with WPS, Blue Shield-Blue Cross, WEA and several other insurers, but patients who have Franciscan Skemp’s Health Tradition insurance and most patients who have Gundersen Lutheran Health Plan are not covered at her clinic.
“We’re slowly building a patient base, and some of my patients are coming back to me,” Keil said.
The clinic also has two certified nurse-midwives, Marty Landry, a former Gundersen Lutheran midwife, and Sue Wise, former Franciscan Skemp labor/delivery nurse, and nurse practitioner, Becky Gilbertson.
Keil said the clinic provides comprehensive women’s health care such as well woman and preventive care, sports physicals, prenatal care, menopause and contraceptive management, bio-identical hormone therapy and management of common gynecologic problems and surgical and non-surgical treatment of menstrual disorders.
The clinic also provides therapeutic massage services, as well as aesthetic services such as skin treatments and hair removal.
“We’ve had a lot of aesthetics patients,” Keil said.
She said she expects 30 percent of patients will be pregnant women and 70 percent will be seen for gynecologic problems. Keil said she and the midwives have hospital privileges at both La Crosse medical centers to deliver babies.
“Our patients will get a choice where to deliver their babies, and they can always have the same provider,” Keil said. “It’s frustrating when your insurance changes and you have to switch providers.”
Keil Clinic has a procedure room and a laboratory where some tests can be done — and 4-D ultrasound.
“It took a lot of effort to figure out how to set up this clinic, and there’s no guarantee it’s going to work, but I think the La Crosse community is ready for it,” Keil said.
Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at trindfleisch@lacrossetribune.com, or (608) 791-8227.
BUSINESS OF THE WEEK
WHAT: Keil Clinic
ADDRESS: 20 Copeland Ave., Suite 201, Spencer Building in Three Rivers Plaza. The building was occupied by Bernie Buchner Inc. until 2005.
SERVICES: Comprehensive women’s health care including obstetrics, therapeutic massage, skin care treatments and hair removal.
EMPLOYEES: Karen Keil, an obstetrician-gynecologist; two certified nurse-midwives; a nurse practitioner; ultrasound technician; office manager; medical assistant; and receptionist.
HOURS: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and 8 to 3 p.m. Friday. Walk-ins welcome.
TELEPHONE: (608) 784-5249
WEB SITE: www.keilclinic.com
—–
To see more of the La Crosse Tribune or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.lacrossetribune.com/.
Copyright (c) 2008, La Crosse Tribune, Wis.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.