LCHC Medical Clinic is your local home for your family’s healthcare needs.
Our providers and clinic staff are proud to offer a comprehensive range of services. In addition to being able to handle the vast majority of your family’s acute medical needs, LCHC Medical Clinic offers comprehensive preventative medical services, including adult and pediatric immunizations, adult health maintenance visits, osteopathic manipulations, and well-pediatric care.
We are equipped to provide basic laboratory services within the clinic, such as cholesterol and diabetic testing and general diagnostic ultrasound examinations. We are also able to perform a variety of outpatient surgical procedures including dermatologic surgery, minor gynecologic procedures, and vasectomies.
Located on the Lucas County Health Center campus, our patients and providers have immediate and convenient access to the hospital’s laboratory, radiology department, emergency department, and physical therapy services. Our location also provides easy access to the medical, and surgical departments of Lucas County Health Center.
Our Providers
LCHC’s Medical Clinic offers a highly skilled team of providers in order to offer you the best healthcare for you and your family’s needs.
Kenneth Anderson, DO
Family Medicine
Christine Buttell, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Greg Cohen, DO
Family Medicine
Miranda Gebhart, ARNP
Nurse Practitioner
Abby Hamilton, ARNP
Nurse Practitioner
Peter Hoftiezer, DO
Family Medicine
Allison Krutsinger, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Chris Osier, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Amy Poncelow, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Sharon Squibb, MS, CNM, ARNP, NCMP
Nurse Midwife, Nurse Practitioner
Kayla Wallace, ARNP
Nurse Practitioner
Insurance
LCHC Medical Clinic participates in many different insurance plans. Keep in mind, however, that any insurance company may have numerous, different plans in its offerings and we may not participate in all plans.
Please contact your insurance company directly or your employer’s Human Resource Department, who can provide you with the most current provider and benefit information specific to your insurance.
Choosing Wisely Campaign
Patients sometimes ask for tests and treatments that are not necessarily in their best interest and physicians often struggle with decisions about prescribing tests and procedures as a way of covering all basis. So the ABIM Foundation has joined with leading medical specialty societies to develop evidence-based lists of tests and procedures for patients and physicians to question as part of Choosing Wisely.
Medical Records
Although your medical record is the property of LCHC Medical Clinic, you have the right, at any time, to request a copy of any or all of your medical records. You also have the right, at any time, to request any or all of your medical records to be sent to another provider, clinic, hospital, or other facility. LCHC Medical Clinic’s medical records department is available from 8 AM – 5 PM, Monday through Friday, to assist you with obtaining copies of all or a portion of your health record, transferring your medical records, or answering any questions you may have about the process. Click the links below to download forms related to obtaining or transferring your medical record.
Pre-Registration
Before your initial visit to LCHC Medical Clinic, we ask that you complete a patient demographic form, which includes your insurance information, employment information, etc. We also ask that you complete a comprehensive health history questionnaire. This information helps our staff accurately enter your information into our computer database, as well as saving time during your initial nurse/physician interview.
For your convenience, these forms are available for you to download, print, and complete at home prior to your first appointment. Periodically, we will ask you to update this information. If there have been any changes to your insurance information or medical history, such as medication changes, be sure to mention that to the receptionist, nurse, or provider at the time of your visit. You may also download and complete the Patient Information Update Form below. We recommend you complete the Update Form yearly.
Following medical school, family physicians complete a residency during which they receive training in several major medical areas and patient populations:
Care for all ages from infants to the elderly
Care for chronic conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, and heart disease
Ear, nose, and throat care
Emergency medical care
Minor surgical procedures
Mental and behavioral health care
Bone and joint care
Eye care
X-rays
Care of the urinary system
Well-women care, reproductive counseling, and family counseling
Family physicians help you stay healthy with an individualized plan of care. Family physicians know the key to maintaining long-term good health is the patient-physician relationship. To develop your personal treatment plan, a family physician will ask questions about your family health history and lifestyle to determine your health risk factors.
Family physicians also adhere to the highest standards of medical care. To maintain board certification, family physicians are also required to complete a minimum of 150 hours of continuing medical education every three years. In addition, family physicians have the support of national medical associations, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP). Both associations provide high-quality learning opportunities for family physicians, as well as patient education materials and practice management support.
What is a Nurse Practitioner?
Nurse Practitioners (ARNP’s) see patients of all ages. The core philosophy of the field is individualized care. An ARNP’s focus is on patients’ conditions as well as the effects of illness on the lives of patients and their families.
ARNP’s make prevention, wellness, and patient education priorities. This can mean fewer prescriptions and less expensive treatments. They inform patients about their health care and encourage them to participate in decisions that are central to the care provided by ARNP’s.
A Physician Assistant (PA-C) is a healthcare professional who is licensed to practice medicine as part of a team with physicians and/or other providers. They are concerned with preventing and treating human illness and injury by providing a broad range of health care services under the supervision of a physician or surgeon. Physician Assistants conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, develop treatment plans, perform procedures, prescribe medications, counsel on preventative health and may assist in surgery.
If you have a question about a prescription medication you are taking, we will try to respond to you by the end of the work day. However, if you need to have a prescription medication refilled, we ask that you contact your pharmacy. Follow the telephone prompts, including entering the prescription number, if asked, and your prescription refill request will be forwarded to LCHC Medical Clinic for approval if your provider feels it is appropriate to do so.
If you have not seen your provider in the previous 12 months, you will need to make an appointment to evaluate the necessity and effectiveness of your medication prior to the provider giving approval for a refill.
Keep in mind that prescription refills may take 24-72 hours to be completed, so please don’t wait until your medication is completely gone before requesting a refill, AND please don’t wait until Friday afternoon if you know your medication will run out over the weekend.
Our providers are now able to refill all of your prescriptions without the need for written paper prescriptions. Many of our prescription refills are sent by electronic prescribing, or e-prescribing. However, you may be handed a printed prescription if you are in our office at the time. Written paper prescriptions are being used less frequently by our providers every day.
If you know you will need a prescription refilled in the near future, please mention it to your nurse or provider at the time of your office appointment.
Is LCHC's Medical Clinic accepting new patients?
Yes, all of our providers are accepting new patients. However, some of our providers are limiting the number of new patients they can see, so as not to unfairly limit access to care by existing patients. If you are interested in seeing a particular provider, please contact our office and ask our receptionist whether the provider you wish to see is accepting new patients at this time.
What information is needed at my first visit to the LCHC Medical Clinic?
As a new patient, we need your personal and contact information as well as employer and health insurance information. We need the name of your preferred pharmacy, and if you have an e-mail address, we would like that as well, as future services include contact via email. Before your first visit, we ask that you or your family member(s) complete a patient demographic/insurance form as well as a patient health history questionnaire. These forms are available to print and complete at home before your first appointment, which saves valuable time for you and our staff at your initial visit.
My family just moved to Lucas County. How do I get our medical records transferred to the LCHC Medical Clinic?
Just call our Health Information department at (641) 774-3229 to speak with our medical records staff. A release of information form will be sent to you. Alternatively, you may download a release of information form, and fax or mail it to your previous provider(s), and those records will be sent to our office by your previous provider’s office.
Does LCHC Medical Clinic participate in my company's insurance plan?
LCHC Medical Clinic participates in many insurance plans. Please contact your insurance company directly or your employer’s Human Resource Department, and they can provide you with the most current provider and benefit information specific to your insurance plan.
Does LCHC Medical Clinic handle all insurance claims for me?
Yes, LCHC’s Medical Clinic will handle all your insurance claims, including Medicare, Title XIX, and all other private insurance plans. Remember though, even if a claim is being processed with your insurance company, you are responsible for the bill until it is paid.
Why does your staff ask me for payment on the day of my visit?
Insurance co-pays are expected to be paid at the time of service unless other arrangements have been made. We will also ask you about your intent to pay any outstanding balance at the time of your visit. This policy is not different from any other medical office.
What is a deductible, co-payment, and co-insurance?
A deductible is an annual expense you must pay before your insurance benefits can begin. This amount can vary based on the place of services. A co-pay is a set amount paid at each visit based on your specific insurance policy. This amount usually does not count towards your deductible. Co-insurance is a percentage of your charges that may be separate, or in addition to, any co-pay you might be responsible for. Co-insurance will normally kick in after a patient meets their deductible. If you need further explanation of these terms, feel free to contact our billing department.
What should I do if I change my insurance plans?
If you change insurance carriers, please notify LCHC Medical Clinic as soon as possible. At each new visit, our receptionists will question you about your insurance coverage, and whether any changes have occurred since your last visit.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept MasterCard, Visa, and Discover credit cards. We also accept debit cards with Visa and MasterCard logos. Additionally, patients have the option to pay via check or cash.
What happens if I have a balance on my account?
Statements on accounts with balances are mailed to you on a monthly basis. If an account has a balance older than 120 days from the date of service the account will be sent to collections. Payment plans are available if you are unable to pay the full balance all at once. If you have specific questions, please contact our billing office.
Who should I call if I have a question about my statement or charges for the services I've received?
Call our billing department at any time from 8 AM – 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Call (641) 774-8103 and follow the phone menu to be connected with our billing department.
I need to ask my provider a question. How do I do that?
We welcome all questions, and will make sure that all your concerns are addressed by our staff. If you have a problem or question, contact us at (641) 774-8103. Our phone operator or receptionist will forward your message or question to your provider or his/her nurse. For non-emergent problems, expect a response within 24 hours. For more urgent issues, please consider dialing 9-1-1. We will call you back by the end of the business day if you feel you have an emergent health question or problem.
Additionally, you can utilize our patient portal, MyUnityPoint, to ask questions, request prescription refills, make a payment, and much more.
My family members needs to see a provider today. In the past I've had problems getting an appointment when my family member is sick. Can you help fix this problem?
We make every effort to see patients with acute health issues as quickly as possible. We have recognized and tried to deal with this problem of access to health care by providing same-day appointments and next-day appointments. All of our providers have appointment spaces in their schedules to see patients who need to be seen urgently or on the next day.
Can I always see the same provider?
As Family Physicians, we strive to provide continuous, comprehensive, and appropriate care to you and your family. Every patient has a personal physician or provider who is responsible for their care. We try to schedule all your appointments with that provider, including same-day or next-day appointments. That may not always be possible, however, in which case, one of our providers will be able to see you or your family member for acute illnesses or injuries.
I have concerns about the care my family member received at LCHC Medical Clinic. How do I let someone know?
If, for any reason, you feel you have not received appropriate or compassionate care, if you are concerned about long waiting times, difficulty scheduling appointments, or have any concerns about how your encounter was handled by receptionists, nurses, or your provider, we want you to let us know. Only through your feedback can we improve the services to our patients. Should you have a concern, please contact our Clinic Manager, Andrea Smith, or our Chief Clinical Officer, Amy McCurdy. Either may be reached by calling our office at (641) 774-8103.
Why is my provider entering my medical information on a computer? Should I be worried about the security of my personal medical information?
The federal government has mandated that by the year 2014, all healthcare providers must use electronic health records (EHR) for recording patient information. Rest assured, your medical information is just as secure when stored electronically as it is in a paper record. In addition, your medical history is more portable and can be shared with appropriate specialists, hospitals, etc.
