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Malden Observer
October 12, 2007
http://www.wickedlocal.com/malden/news/lifestyle/health/x1909889303
Looking for a doctor?
One year ago, what is now the Malden
Family Medical Center — located on Savin
Street at the former Malden Hospital site —
was a vacant building, with no medical staff.
Now, the fully employed facility is literally
coming to life.
The staff roster is fleshed out with four
family medicine specialists, and the interior
buzzes with business. Patients wait in a
newly decorated lobby, and enjoy
appointments where the latest technology
is used. One of the portraits lining the
walls features the likeness of at least one
doctor’s child, adding what practice
members see as softer, welcoming touch.
The entire practice — from its calming decoration style to its flexible hours — is
dedicated to the field of family medicine, which centers on serving family members
comprehensively from birth through death.
For Malden Family Medical Center, that means delivering babies, performing health
screenings, counseling patients at all ages and making themselves available at hours
when families need care — not just during the business day.
“We’ve already delivered a couple babies,” said Dr. James Bath, one of the newest
additions to the medical staff. “We really do get to take care of the entire family. And
we’re very lucky that Malden is such a very diverse town.”
Dr. Karyn Entrop Governale agrees.
“I love the fact that we care for all ages,” she said. “We have patients from 2 days old to
92 days old. We have the populations that are underserved, but we also have all the
young professionals coming in. I do women’s health, adolescent health…if one family
member likes you, the next step is the whole family coming.”
The doctors rotate staffing weekend hours, which all agreed can keep regular patients
out of hospital emergency rooms as a means of finding care off-hours.
“We realize our patients have jobs and kids other than us,” Dr. Viviana Ionescu-Tiba
said. “We really feel strongly about that.”
Dr. James Cheverie, a former teacher who became a doctor after starting medical
school later in his career, said the practice strives for personal relationships with
patients.
Some of the doctors are even doing home visits.
“That service can be unique to a family practice,” Bath said. “It just seems to flow
naturally from taking care of people from cradle to grave.”
Dr. Viviana Ionescu-Tiba said another benefit to the practice’s location is their proximity
to the VNA upstairs.
“They the eyes and ears when we can’t be there to see patients,” she said.
The facility is equipped with nine exam rooms, and all of the area is handicapped
accessible, with beds that can accommodate a larger range of weights and body sizes
than older exam tables. The waiting room has a separate kids play area to keep younger
patients occupied and non-disruptive among older patients waiting for their
appointments.
There is also a computer in each room, which makes for electronic record keeping and
faster transmission of prescriptions so patients don’t have to wait in line at a pharmacy
for medicine when ill.
“The beauty of it is saving a trip to the pharmacy when you’re sick,” Ionescu-Tiba said.
The staff works with four medical assistants, one for each doctor. Eventually, medical
students will rotate through. Already the staff is offering conversation skills in several
different languages, and the facility is accessible by public transportation.
But the staff said the greatest advantage the center can offer is the sense of
camaraderie and teamwork among its specially selected staff, all who have chosen to
specialize in family practice.
“We really respect each other as professional people and we take ownership in our
work, and patients see it,” Cheverie said. “You end up with a good feeling, and it’s a
trickle-down thing.”
For more information on the center, visit www.hallmarkhealth.org/maldenfamilyhealthcenter.
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