potrero view

June 2009

Concentra Medical Takes Over Bay Medical

By Sarah Marloff

Two months ago Concentra Medical purchased Bay Medical, and moved from its long-time location in Dogpatch to Potrero Hill.  Concentra is a national company, with more than 300 medical centers and 250 workplace clinics.  The health care provider specializes in occupational medicine, including immigration physicals, drug tests – roughly 30 administered a day – and performing Federal Aviation Administration-required physicals for pilots.  “It’s an employer-driven place. Employers can send employees here for all services” Kelly Klug, Center Operations Director, explained. “Its one stop shopping.”

Concentra recently added an urgent care unit, which offers a faster alternative to visiting San Francisco General Hospital’s emergency room.  Four physicians are on staff at Concentra’s Connecticut Street location, with two surgical rooms in the building.  On average, Concentra sees 130 patients a day, roughly half of whom are walk-ins.  According to Klug, the average total time spent at the facility, including waiting and receiving services, is about “an hour.”  On a recent weekday the waiting room was full, with several patients asking the desk attendant how much longer before they’d see a doctor.

Concentra charges $85 for an urgent care visit; $145 for x-rays, or tests performed at the office; and $179 for a more complex visit that may include sutures, asthma treatment, foreign object removal, or splinting.  Though they accept most insurance coverage – a feature that has earned them praise from Yelp users – Concentra doesn’t take Medicare or Kaiser Permanente.  For the uninsured, Concentra offers private pay plans and cash discounts.

Concentra bought the Potrero Hill practice from Allan A. Konce – an orthopedic surgeon and industrial/occupational specialist – who owned Bay Medical for the past quarter century. “I retained all of Dr. Konce’s staff, and kept the same physicians. They’ve been together for about ten years, and the [Concentra staff] has worked together for five.” Klug said. The transition from Dogpatch to Potrero Hill has been smooth. “We never skipped a beat. We went from business there on Friday to here on Monday.”  Concentra was attracted to the Connecticut Street site due to its “more established location…and the building is nicer and bigger.” They are currently remolding, with the first of three phases completed.  Plans include larger rooms, a flat-screen television, and potential expansion to other floors. “Ultimately we want it to be more patient friendly.”

Concentra also offers chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy and occupational services, all of which are available for private appointments.  “Patient care is our primarily goal. I want them to feel like they’re walking into a safe, comfortable, patient-oriented clinic.” Klug keeps snacks, coffee and hot cocoa on hand for clients.  Divine Essence Yoga also offers services in the building, though the studio is not affiliated with Concentra.

Klug has worked with Concentra for the past five years and was named Center Administrator of the Year in 2007. She lives in Castro Valley. “I choose to be here.  I love this business. I love being the director, and I take ownership in this being a friendly and family-oriented place.”

Concentra is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. To learn more about Concentra and their six other Bay Area locations – including Union Square – visit Concentra.com, or attend the Potrero Hill  open house, 2 Connecticut Street, featuring complimentary food and beverages, on June 25 from 4 to 7 p.m..

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