Maumelle Welcomes UAMS Neighborhood Clinic

By Yavonda Chase

Lisa Fisher from B98.5 interviews Charlie Fisher, M.D., about the new UAMS Neighborhood Clinic. Fisher oversees all of UAMS' primary care clinics.

Lisa Fisher from B98 interviews Charlie Smith, M.D., about the new UAMS Neighborhood Clinic in Maumelle. Smith oversees all of UAMS’ primary care clinics.

Although the weather outside was definitely frightful, dozens of members of the Maumelle community, including Mayor Mike Watson, stopped by the open house to chat with the staff and get a peek at the state-of-the-art facility, located at 102 Town Centre Drive.

“We appreciate the warm welcome from the community,” said UAMS Medical Center CEO Roxane Townsend, M.D. “We were happy to make appointments and meet new patients during the open house, and we look forward to serving the Maumelle area.”

Charlie Smith, M.D., who oversees all UAMS primary care clinics, including the new Neighborhood Clinic, said UAMS has a “vision for primary care” that includes having an “excellent, high-quality group of physicians, nurses, providers and staff.”

“We just don’t believe you’ll get better care anywhere,” he added.

Debra Calhoun, the Maumelle clinic's phlebotomy technician, shows off her balloon heart hat, which was made by Valinda Martin, aka Flutter the Butterfly Clown. The Open House had several kid-friendly activities, including balloon creations by Martin and face painting by Maumelle High School art students.

Debra Calhoun, the Maumelle clinic’s phlebotomy technician, shows off her balloon hat, which was made by Valinda Martin, aka Flutter the Butterfly Clown.

The clinic is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday. It offers primary care services to those 12 and older. To make an appointment, call 501-614-2470.

Maumelle residents were enthusiastic about the new clinic, which opened Nov. 2.

“I’ve lived in Maumelle for 31 years since it was a two-lane highway with nothing here. When I saw that UAMS was opening up here, I thought, ‘Wow, this is a complete circle kind of thing,’” said Mala Waller.

Delores Turner said she and her husband, Jerry, came to the open house because they knew about the quality health care provided by UAMS and its doctors “and we just wanted to see what was coming to Maumelle.” The couple said they were impressed with the facility and with physician Michael Stout, M.D.

Stout, who is board certified in family medicine and has been practicing in Little Rock for 18 years, will be leading the clinic.

Michael Stout, M.D., who will lead the new UAMS Neighborhood Clinic, looks over the shoulder of Mark Jansen, M.D. Jansen was assisting with some of the free screenings at the open house.

Michael Stout, M.D., (left) who will lead the new UAMS Neighborhood Clinic, visits with Mark Jansen, M.D. Jansen was assisting with free screenings at the open house.

Several types of screenings, including those for blood glucose levels, blood pressure and body mass index (BMI), were offered to open house visitors. Clinic staff was also available to help visitors make appointments or to answer questions about the various types of insurance that would be accepted.

Barbara Watkins, who works at Audubon Pointe Apartments, brought six residents with her to tour the clinic.

“We have a need for primary care physicians who can take the insurances they have,” she said. “We need more PCPs in Maumelle.”

Stout said what he hears most from Maumelle residents is that the city needs more primary care doctors.

“There hasn’t been enough primary care in Maumelle, and the guys who are here are already very busy,” he said. “It is a big asset to the community when people can see somebody here rather than having to drive across the river for their care.”