Health and Wellness Center at OTC
Dr. Jim Blaine is the lead physician for the Health and Wellness Center at Ozarks Technical Community College. Dr. Blaine has been practicing medicine in the Springfield area for the past 30 years.
The Center is located in Lincoln Hall, Suite 208, and features a full family practice including routine lab work on site. All full-time College employees and their dependents are eligible for the clinic, free of charge.
Employees are encouraged to undergo a yearly physical with a preferred physician or at the center to insure their proper health and wellness.
The center was established to provide an additional benefit to the College's full-time employees to promote their overall health and wellness. The convenience of an on-site clinic is beneficial to those employees who may not have the time or resources to see a physician on a regular basis.
Health and Wellness Center Hours
Day |
Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 9:00am - 1:00pm |
| Wednesday | 9:00am-11:00am and 1:00pm-3:00pm |
| Friday | 9:00am-1:00pm |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do you see as patients?
We will see any full time OTC employee and their legal dependents (if there is any question whether one of your family members is a legal dependent, please contact HR).
What are the costs at the clinic?
Full time employees and their dependents are not charged for office visits or for many routine labs. Any other labs, X-rays, pathology charges for surgical specimens, PAP smear interpretations and other services that are not performed on siteare billed to your insurance.
What are the office hours?
The clinic is open on Monday and Friday from 9:00am to 1:00pm. It is open on Wednesdays from 9:00am to 11:00am and re-opens from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.
Do you have appointments or walk-ins?
We much prefer appointments, but feel free to drop in to make an appointment.
What is your phone number?
Our office phone is 866-3133 and fax is 866-3233.
Where are you located?
We are in Lincoln Hall; Suite 208 (first office on the left as you come in the main entrance).
When are fasting labs drawn?
We usually draw fasting labs from 8:00am to 9:00am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Who are the staff at the clinic?
Jim Blaine, MD, Medical Director; Joann Hosmer, RN and Barbara Blaine, Office Manager and Receptionist.
Who pays for the clinic?
The Health & Wellness Clinic is provided by Dr. Higdon and the OTC Board as a benefit to the employees of OTC.
How often do I need a physical exam?
An annual physical is a good idea.
What tests are done at an annual physical?
We typically do a complete chemistry panel that includes lipids (cholesterol, HDL, LDL, etc), blood sugar, liver enzymes, electrolytes, iron, BUN and creatinine. We also do a TSH (thyroid screen), CBC (White blood cell count and hemoglobin), PSA for males(Prostatic Specific Antigen to help detect prostate cancer). We also perform Pap Smears and do EKGs.
I already have a primary care physician. What does the clinic have to offer me?
We know almost all of the physicians in the area and work well for them. We can do your annual lab for you and fax the results to your physician. We can also see you when it is more convenient to come to the OTC clinic; we can then fax the records of your visit to your physician. Anyone is welcome to come by for a brief get acquainted visit.
I really like my current primary care physician. Do I have to switch over to you to use the clinic for occasional acute care visits etc.?
Absolutely not! It is great that you have a physician that you know and trust. We would like for you to do a records release to us on your first visit in order for us to work more effectively with your physician and to communicate the results of your visits with us to him/her.
Are my records kept confidential?
Absolutely! We are a private office (Springfield Preventive Medicine) and contract with OTC to provide service. We have an electronic medical record that is dedicated to this office and we are the only ones with keys to the office. The office is protected by a separate dedicated alarm system. The only ones who will see patient information are the clinic staff, the patient, and any referral physician (with the patient's permission only).
Can you refill my prescriptions?
We require an office visit before refilling prescriptions. An annual history and physical exam would be ideal.
What if I become ill during a time when the clinic is not open?
If you do not think that you can wait until office hours, your best option is to go to the Urgent Care or to the Emergency Department at Cox. Once you become an established patient, I will provide you with my private phone number (answered daily until 8:00pm) if you need to contact me for emergency consultation.
What labs are covered by the clinic?
| Lab Type | Lab Description |
|---|---|
| CBC | Complete Blood Count detects infections, anemia and blood diseases |
| Chem 12 | Chemistry Panel includes blood glucose, electrolytes and liver enzymes |
| TSH | Thyroid Stimulating Hormone detects and monitors thyroid disease |
| Strep Screen | Detects Strep pharyngitis |
| Lipid Panel | Detects and monitors elevated cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL and Triglycerides |
| UA | Urinalysis detects and monitors urinary diseases |
| PSA | Prostate Specific Antigen detects prostate cancer and infection |
| HbA1C | Hemoglobin A1C monitors diabetes treatment |
| Lab tests ordered by other physicians can be drawn at the clinic, but will be referred to the patients regular insurance for coverage. | |
What labs are not covered by the clinic?
All labs not included above or not ordered by the Health and Wellness Clinic physician will be referred to the patient's insurance for coverage.
