02/19/2015
IT'S BEEN A YEAR!
Can you believe it? It's been a year (February 12th) since Dr. Kim Mahler opened the doors of her private practice - Marenisco Medical Clinic and quite a year it's been! Right off the bat, Dr. Mahler would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to all her patients and supporters for helping make it through this first year!
It was October 2013 when Dr. Mahler, as Chief of Staff NorthStar Health System, decided she'd had enough of corporate-hospital run health care and gave notice to NorthStar that she would not return at the end of her contract. She was frustrated by "bean counting" administrators demanding she see patients every 10 minutes knowing she was being forced into providing health care in a manner she deemed inappropriate. She was frustrated with "non-physician" managers interfering with the doctor/patient relationship in the name of institutional oversight. She was frustrated that in an office of three (herself, clinic nurse & clerk) there were three managers assigned - a little overkill! She wanted to provide health care in the most patient centered manner - as a private practice between a doctor and her patient - no "middleman" needed!
As a result, NorthStar pulled-out of Marenisco January 31, 2014. Good for Dr. Mahler was that she had the foresight to build and own the Marenisco Medical Clinic building. Bad for Dr. Mahler was NorthStar directly contacted all her patients, informing them they were closing the Marenisco site and that Dr. Mahler was no longer in their employ. They also solicited her patients to come to their clinics and providers in Iron River. Because Dr. Mahler had a two year "non-compete" clause in her contract with NorthStar she could not directly contact those patients, advertise in Iron River or provide service within 25 miles of the NorthStar Iron RIver Hospital.
Subsequently, when Dr. Mahler opened the Marenisco Medical Clinic 12 days later, she had a zero patient base. That didn't last long! She couldn't advertise in Iron River but she did advertise locally and as we know, the best advertisement is "word of mouth." In the first year she has gone from a zero patient base to approximately 500 patients.
Dr. Mahler and her dedicated staff (Lauchette Byrne, LPN - clinic nurse, Stacey Sandquist - Medical Assistant & Janice Nordberg - Medical Assistant) provide quality health care to the people of Marenisco and the surrounding area - including many from Iron River ("word of mouth" works). She takes the time needed for each patient, she determines the priorities in HER clinic and she provides the best quality health care in the area! Dr. Mahler is in the office three days a week and the clinic is open five days a week. The clinic provides on-site digital imaging (x-ray) and laboratory services. It also has a well equipped "procedures room" where Dr. Mahler performs office procedures such as: suturing wounds (stitches), growth & cyst removal, osteopathic manipulation, etc.... Dr. Mahler is Board Certified in Family Medicine and works normally two days a week as an Emergency Room Physician at Aspirus Grand View Hospital.
Isn't it good to know that you have a health care option that is truly patient centered? A doctor who is not just a guy or gal in a jacket at the hospital but a neighbor, a friend, a classmate (Marenisco H.S. Class of 1977), a Yooper girl! Someone you know is invested in the community and the area. Someone you know is not leaving, she's here for the long term. If you answered yes to any of these you should check out Dr. Mahler and the Marenisco Medical Clinic.
Again, THANK YOU for all your support and we hope to see you soon!
