October 21st, 2008

Story courtesy of the Danville Commercial-News

While other industries around the country are experiencing dramatic declines, one business continues to grow: health care.

Danville is no exception to this phenomenon. Provena United Samaritans Medical Center recently announced plans to expand its facility. Carle Clinic — Danville is hiring more medical personnel for its now-two locations.

And Christie Clinic, a presence in Danville since 2004, recently announced the completion of its newly expanded facility on North Vermilion Street.

“Christie Clinic in Danville had an excellent opportunity to expand its facility into the space formerly leased by Florida Tan,” Christie Clinic Chief Executive Officer Alan Gleghorn said. “We added about 2,500 square feet, which will be occupied by ob-stetrics and gynecology and our new Department of Pain Management and Rehabilitation.”

Dr. Srinivs Sunkavally specializes in the latter. He joined Christie Clinic in September after several years as a private practitioner in Danville.

“My patients are strictly by referral,” Sunkavally said. “Usually their problems are in the neck and back, related to the spine.

“Now we have an intervention suite, where I can perform ultra-diagnostic evaluations,” he said. “Those are a very fancy form of X-rays.”

Once those have been used to accurately diagnose the cause of the pain, effective treatment can begin.

Not only has the clinic gained space, it’s gained visibility.

“We’ve been telling patients we’re across from the Monical’s up north since our remodeling began,” administrative coordina-tor Anna Cast said. “We’re supposed to be getting a new sign, which will help people spot us.”

Cast feels attracting new patients has already begun.

“People always want to find good doctors,” she said. “We’ve seen big increases in the number of our new patients recently.”

Karen Blatzer, marketing and public relations manager for Christie Clinic, said, “We want a personal relationship with our patients.”

The floor space wasn’t the only thing that’s been increased at Christie Clinic in Danville. The clinic made upgrades through-out the facility, and more services will be available as well.

The new space will be used by various specialists who will see patients at Christie in Danville once or twice a week.

“We’ll continue our community involvement,” Blatzer said. “Dr. (James) Hensold and Dr. (Timothy) Horner already speak at Colonial Manor and other locations. We support the YMCA, Relay for Life and Festival of Trees.

“We think of Provena (USMC) and Carle (Clinic – Danville) as our colleagues,” she said.

FYI

Christie Clinic will hold an open house from 4:30-6 p.m. Oct. 28 to show off its newly expanded facility, 3545 N. Vermilion St. Tours and refreshments will be provided.

For more information, call 366-1200, or visit http://www.christieclinic.com

Tags: danville, srinivs sunkavally