New Pediatric Clinic opens at UW Medical Center-Roosevelt

Dr. Jeff Wright, medical director at UWMC-Roosevelt's Pediatric Clinic, in one of the new exam rooms. Photo by Craig Degginger.

UW Medical Center-Roosevelt is opening its pediatric clinic this week, combining the resources of the pediatric center at UWMC and the general pediatric clinic at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center into a new primary care facility.

"We have created here what we believe is a model pediatric care clinic for the 21st century," said Dr. Jeff Wright, medical director. "We plan on being high-tech and soft touch."

The past two weeks have been a flurry of activity to get exam rooms filled with furniture and equipment in time for the Feb. 2 opening.

The new clinic is located on the fourth floor at UWMC-Roosevelt, next to the Family Medical Center, and includes 11 brightly-colored exam rooms, each equipped with a drawer full of toys and a chalkboard for young patients to enjoy. Waiting areas for children are similarly filled with activities.

The high-tech part lies in the computer equipment installed throughout the clinic. For example, Wright plans to get a digital camera for the office to record in each young patient's chart his or her growth through pictures.

Wright, assistant professor of pediatrics and chief of the general pediatric service at Children's for the past 10 years, will be joined by faculty Drs. Carole Ashenburg, Bob Davis, Al Novack and Jim Taylor.

"We are very much a blended family here," said Dr. Wright, referring to joining of the staff from UWMC and Children's.

Wright reminds people that this is also a teaching clinic, as 35 UW residents will work in the clinic a half day a week each as part of their medical training.

The staff also includes registered nurses, Marti Rotter and Barb Smith; nurse practitioners Mary Ellen Smith and Molly Bennett-Kaufman; patient services representatives Cindy Farrell and Lyn Bassett, and medical assistants Arni Kruvant, Bud Yelsa and Danika Larson.

"We promise to be real kid-friendly and attuned to what parents need," Wright said.

That includes having medical information available to parents 24 hours a day, and a goal of seeing patients within 15 minutes of arrival, he added.

Wright estimates the clinic will have about 10,000 visits its first year. He is confident that families will be comfortable with the switch in facilities from Children's and UWMC to UWMC-Roosevelt, and invites UWMC staff to see the new clinic.

The clinic will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call the clinic at 598-3000. ¶

Craig Degginger