“The new UPMC Hamot Medical Park – Mt.
Jewett, 18 W. Main Street, will open for patient care and services on Monday,
April 30,” announced J. Gary Rhodes, Vice President, UPMC Hamot and CEO of Kane
Community Hospital (KCH).
“This service of KCH, an integrated
affiliate of UPMC Hamot, is a testament to three decades of the right care of
one family doctor who lives, dedicates her life and care to serving
her patients and their families right here in the community,"
Rhodes stated.
“We are happy to be able to
acknowledge Dr. Rettger's dedication and that of her growing
care team with a new, larger facility. This Medical Park is built to
last, for her patients and for the community that she has served so well. Dr. Rettger built a large family practice,
one patient and one family at a time.
From newborns to seniors, her family practice continues to flourish,”
said Rhodes.
For most of the past three decades Dr.
Rettger was an independent practitioner with privileges at KCH. Nearly four
years ago she decided to join Kane Community Hospital and continue her practice
as a hospital-based clinic. At
the time she joined KCH, Eric Asp, PA-C joined the Mt. Jewett clinic
allowing Dr. Rettger to expand her practice to Kane.
“Both we and the community are looking
forward to the change of location," said Dr. Rettger, "with more room
to grow and allowing for additional care and services." The Medical Park has five exam rooms and a
treatment room, expanded waiting room, storage and it is fully handicapped
accessible. "Our patients are just as excited as we are,” Rettger commented.
Dr. Rettger received her medical degree
from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 1974. She did her Family
Practice residency at Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park, Maryland
and began her career at Port Alleghany Community Hospital in 1978.
She received privileges at KCH in 1981 where she remains today on the active
medical staff. She
is board certified by the American Board of Family Practice.
Dr. Rettger has held every position on
the medical staff and currently serves (again) as president of the KCH Medical
Staff. She has chaired or served on
many committees including Utilization, Quality Assurance, Credentials, and
Pharmacy & Therapeutics.
In addition, Dr. Rettger is Medical
Director of two major nursing homes in McKean County – Sena Kean Manor in
Smethport and the Lutheran Home in Kane.
She is also assistant director of the Hospice Program for Community
Nurses.
She served as School Physician for the Kane Area School District
for four years and in her early years was McKean County Coroner.
Dr. Rettger was born in Warren. She
married Denis in 1981 at which time she moved to Mt. Jewett. Denis owns Mountain Top Machine Co. in Mt.
Jewett, a manufacturer of steel panels for construction. They have two grown daughters. Allison is a teacher of home economics in
the area. Andrea is a pediatrician in residency in Indiana.
Dr. Rettger enjoys time with her family
and is very involved with her church, Seventh Day Adventist in Mt. Jewett. She works with the 10-15 year old youth group
known as the Pathfinders. (Their Easter
Egg project -- hand formed coconut and
peanut butter, chocolate coated, and decorated eggs -- is an eagerly
anticipated annual event in the community and at Kane Community Hospital.)
The
new, two story, 6,000 square foot facility is in the final days of preparation
for opening its doors to the public on Monday. A grand opening celebration is
planned for Thursday, May 10, 5-7 pm.
KCH invites you to mark your calendar and come join the celebration.
Other
members of the Mt. Jewett care team will be introduced or reintroduced to the
community in the coming days.
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