New medical complex to open in city

By Staff
Nathan Strickland
For the FCT
A new medical complex is expected to open in Russellville soon, giving area residents one more outlet for medical care.
A private enterprise, Medovation LLC, will be turning the 48,000 square feet former Food World building into a multi-dimensional medical center to help patients with all types of medical needs.
The $8 million project will consist of an urgent care center, diagnostic and imaging clinic and several full-service doctor's offices.
Medovation managing partner Randall Spradlin says this is just what the area needs.
"The community should be proud of what will be here," he said. "We will have the latest technology with the most qualified people operating it."
The urgent care center will hold extended hours for patients who need medical care, but are unable to see their family doctor.
Dr. David R. Longmire, a local neurologist, said the urgent care center will provide the highest quality of care when patients seem to need it the most.
"Let's say someone has an illness that is not severe enough to go to the emergency room and it occurs after their family doctor's office has already closed, they can come into the urgent care center and get medical diagnosis with treatment right on the spot," he said.
"This is the first time this kind of treatment has been offered in Franklin County."
Spradlin said the community seems to support the idea of keeping the health care inside the county.
"Everybody is excited about the urgent care center," he said. "Everybody wants options and this gives them that option."
The diagnostic and imaging center will offer nine different kinds of tests including a high-speed open MRI, CT scanner, nuclear imaging camera and an ultra sound station.
Longmire said the facility will provide the best technology to accurately diagnose patients.
"This facility will provide high technology, non-invasive diagnostic testing of the nervous system such as the brain and spinal cord that will allow rapid evaluation of patients with weakness and neuropathic pain, so that they can get the appropriate treatments as soon as possible," he said.
Full-service doctor's offices will also be available inside the complex which will help specialists better serve their patients.
"All we are trying to do is get the services to folks who need it," Longmire said.
Russellville Hospital will not be involved with the medical complex, however, Spradlin says the complex will actually compliment the medical care that is already in the area. He also believes the urgent care center will take some pressure off the hospital, especially in the emergency room.
"The important thing is that we are keeping the healthcare right here in the community," he said.
The deadline on finishing touches is set for December 6. Spradlin hopes to have the medical complex up and running by the first of the year.