`Primary Health turns 15`

Medical network finds niche
* * *(
One-Stop Center grows to 17 locations

By Michael Roknick
Herald Business Editor

Jack Laeng is boldly taking Primary Health where — well — few health care providers have gone before.

Laeng is executive director of The Primary Health Network which bills itself as the largest pri-mary care group practicing in Mercer County. With locations such as Sharon and Farrell, Primary has found a new geographic niche.

“Our fastest growth is in rural areas,’’ said Laeng, executive director of the non-profit group. With offices in such places as Sheakleyville, Linesville and soon, East Brady, Primary is reaching into tiny markets that larger health care providers frequently ignore.

That fits in to Primary’s mission: to provide primary medical services to the “medically under-served.’’

Primary medicine is the nuts and bolts of medicine, such as a family physician, dentistry and pe-diatrics. In addition to that, Primary offers obstetrics/gynecology, internal medicine and, among other treatments, the slightly exotic acupuncture.

Now 15 years old, Primary began as the Shenango Valley Primary Health Care Center with one location. The organization has now grown to 17 locations in three counties. Employing more than 100 full and part time staff, the organization sees employees of 34 area companies who have selected the group as its primary care provider.

Mercer County is still the top market for the non-profit organization. With an annual budget of $6 million, two-thirds of that is spent in the county.

But branching out into other geographic areas is helping Primary grow, Laeng said. Primary cur-rently sees 21,000 patients annually and Laeng wants to see that number grow 20 percent a year for the next five years.

Counting those who attend Primary’s educational seminars and health screenings, the organiza-tion sees about 50,000 people a year, Laeng said.

“We think our service is so broad that’s why it attracts so many people,’’ he said. Women and children comprise 70 percent of its population with a similar percentage catering to those with Medicare, Medicaid or no insurance.

“Most men go to a doctor because a woman compelled them or they get so bad they use it as a last resort,’’ Laeng said. “Women have a better understanding of health care.’’

Although Primary is targeting rural areas it continues to have a strong urban base in Sharon and Farrell, he added. Half the patients walk from their homes to visit Primary’s Farrell office. “We tend to locate in neighborhoods to make it convenient for people,’’ Laeng said.

Signing a five-year medical service agreement with UPMC Horizon last year, Primary and Horizon share medical services, health care education and certain staff members.

But Laeng said Primary continues to refer patients to all the hospitals in areas it serves, including Sharon Regional Health System, Sharon, and United Community Hospital in Grove City. Laeng described the new relationship with Horizon as a natural outgrowth.

“The more we worked with each other the more we wanted to use each other’s services,’’ he said. “We can sit down and talk about these things and see what makes sense for both parties.’’

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Updated June 5, 1999
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SHARON

Primary Health turns 15

Medical network finds niche * * *( One-Stop Center grows to 17 locations

`Primary Health turns 15`

Medical network finds niche
* * *(
One-Stop Center grows to 17 locations