Business
New family medical practice puts the focus back on families
Rebecca Barnes
Dr. Jerry Amundsen has quite a few new ideas about how to run a family medical practice. And some of his ideas aren’t so new – in fact, they might remind some of Mustang’s older residents of the way family doctors used to operate in times gone by.
“My approach is more typical of the old family doctor,” Amundsen said. “I still deliver my own babies and do my own hospital work. It’s a big advantage when your doctor knows your whole family. It’s an advantage to the patient, because it provides a more personal relationship, which in turn creates better communication, and it’s an advantage to the doctor because you know the family history. You’re aware of things that could otherwise be missed. So my goal is to treat the babies all the way up to the great-grandparents.”
Another area in which Amundsen’s practice differs from those of others in his field is the broad scope of services he provides his patients. Dermatology procedures, vasectomies, foot, toe and nail work, circumcisions for new babies, birth control implants and spider vein treatments are among the procedures Amundsen provides that many other family doctors would refer to specialists.
“We do things that other family physicians don’t do,” Amundsen said. “One of my goals is for people not to have to run around to different offices all the time. People don’t like to have to drive into the city, fill out new paperwork and meet a new doctor – it’s not convenient.”
Amundsen’s background has rendered him well qualified to offer services that extend beyond the scope of the regular general practitioner. A sought-after instructor of other doctors, he has taught at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center medical school and family residence program, and currently teaches at the Great Plains residency program at Deaconess Hospital.
The National Procedures Institute regularly calls upon Amundsen to travel out of state to train other doctors. This month, for example, he’s flying to New York City to teach a group of physicians procedures for radio frequency surgery, a new technology that uses radio waves instead of cutting.
“I think from a lot of aspects this is better than a laser, because there’s no thermal injury to the skin,” he said.
He uses radio frequency technology to perform many dermatological procedures, and said he thinks it has potential for tattoo removal as well.
Considering his broad background and numerous capabilities, it’s easy to wonder if Amundsen has a favorite among the various branches of his practice. He’s quick to admit that he does.
“Anybody who has been in my clinic knows that my favorites are the young kids.”
He said building strong relationships with his youngest patients can make a difference as they get older.
“Kids today have a lot of tough decisions with drugs, relationships, taking training supplements, things like that,” he said. “If a doctor can develop a relationship with a young person where they feel they can talk to you about anything, you could really be in a position to help that kid.”
Another favorite field of Amundsen’s is sports medicine. He works with Mustang High School as the on-site doctor at sporting events, and makes an extra effort to accommodate the needs of coaches and teachers.
He said working in Mustang has been a goal since he first visited the community in 1996.
“After I came and did some work here, I knew if I ever went into private practice that’s where I wanted to go,” he said. “It’s perfect – you have the close-knit small-town attitude and atmosphere."
He said the large number of young families in Mustang will help him fulfill an important goal.
“I try hard to get involved with that group, because that way we can make a big impact in prevention, in making this population healthy at a young age.”
He said his philosophy of building long-lasting relationships with the families he treats is one that is due for a comeback within the medical community.
“I think there was a time when those relationships were becoming rare, but it’s starting to make a comeback,” he said. “From the perspective of someone who teaches family medicine to hundreds and hundreds of people, that’s something I see in many young doctors, and it’s something I try to instill.”
Amundsen’s brand-new clinic offers both before-work and evening hours to make appointments more convenient for his patients. The clinic is open weekdays from 7:15 a.m. until 6 p.m., and plans are in the works to add staff members with the goal of staying open even later during the week or offering hours on Saturdays.
The clinic is located in the Mustang Mall (next door to Cato's near Wal-Mart) and can be reached by telephone at 256-6000.
New family medical practice puts the focus back on families
Rebecca Barnes
Dr. Jerry Amundsen has quite a few new ideas about how to run a family medical practice. And some of his ideas aren’t so new – in fact, they might remind some of Mustang’s older residents of the way family doctors used to operate in times gone by.
“My approach is more typical of the old family doctor,” Amundsen said. “I still deliver my own babies and do my own hospital work. It’s a big advantage when your doctor knows your whole family. It’s an advantage to the patient, because it provides a more personal relationship, which in turn creates better communication, and it’s an advantage to the doctor because you know the family history. You’re aware of things that could otherwise be missed. So my goal is to treat the babies all the way up to the great-grandparents.”
Another area in which Amundsen’s practice differs from those of others in his field is the broad scope of services he provides his patients. Dermatology procedures, vasectomies, foot, toe and nail work, circumcisions for new babies, birth control implants and spider vein treatments are among the procedures Amundsen provides that many other family doctors would refer to specialists.
“We do things that other family physicians don’t do,” Amundsen said. “One of my goals is for people not to have to run around to different offices all the time. People don’t like to have to drive into the city, fill out new paperwork and meet a new doctor – it’s not convenient.”
Amundsen’s background has rendered him well qualified to offer services that extend beyond the scope of the regular general practitioner. A sought-after instructor of other doctors, he has taught at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center medical school and family residence program, and currently teaches at the Great Plains residency program at Deaconess Hospital.
The National Procedures Institute regularly calls upon Amundsen to travel out of state to train other doctors. This month, for example, he’s flying to New York City to teach a group of physicians procedures for radio frequency surgery, a new technology that uses radio waves instead of cutting.
“I think from a lot of aspects this is better than a laser, because there’s no thermal injury to the skin,” he said.
He uses radio frequency technology to perform many dermatological procedures, and said he thinks it has potential for tattoo removal as well.
Considering his broad background and numerous capabilities, it’s easy to wonder if Amundsen has a favorite among the various branches of his practice. He’s quick to admit that he does.
“Anybody who has been in my clinic knows that my favorites are the young kids.”
He said building strong relationships with his youngest patients can make a difference as they get older.
“Kids today have a lot of tough decisions with drugs, relationships, taking training supplements, things like that,” he said. “If a doctor can develop a relationship with a young person where they feel they can talk to you about anything, you could really be in a position to help that kid.”
Another favorite field of Amundsen’s is sports medicine. He works with Mustang High School as the on-site doctor at sporting events, and makes an extra effort to accommodate the needs of coaches and teachers.
He said working in Mustang has been a goal since he first visited the community in 1996.
“After I came and did some work here, I knew if I ever went into private practice that’s where I wanted to go,” he said. “It’s perfect – you have the close-knit small-town attitude and atmosphere."
He said the large number of young families in Mustang will help him fulfill an important goal.
“I try hard to get involved with that group, because that way we can make a big impact in prevention, in making this population healthy at a young age.”
He said his philosophy of building long-lasting relationships with the families he treats is one that is due for a comeback within the medical community.
“I think there was a time when those relationships were becoming rare, but it’s starting to make a comeback,” he said. “From the perspective of someone who teaches family medicine to hundreds and hundreds of people, that’s something I see in many young doctors, and it’s something I try to instill.”
Amundsen’s brand-new clinic offers both before-work and evening hours to make appointments more convenient for his patients. The clinic is open weekdays from 7:15 a.m. until 6 p.m., and plans are in the works to add staff members with the goal of staying open even later during the week or offering hours on Saturdays.
The clinic is located in the Mustang Mall (next door to Cato's near Wal-Mart) and can be reached by telephone at 256-6000.
1 comments
I'd just like to send an "insider tip" from Nebraska,
Dr. Jerry Amundsen is what he says he is. He truly cares about people~ especially the young ones. He knows how to treat families~ I know that... because I've been his cousin for a long... long time!
Your article didn't mention that Dr. Jerry's history in sports medicine goes way back to when he played football himself. He was quite an athlete in his younger days. He also is a loving and compassionate father and husband to his wife and 3 children.
Believe me... if I lived in Mustang, I would trust Dr. Amundsen with the lives of my loved ones, because he practices ethical, honest, tenderhearted medicine. Oh how I wish there were more Dr. Amundsens in the world!
Thanks for shining the light on a new bright spot in your community.
Angie Shaw
Gering, Nebraska
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