Dr. Gil Mobley, a former St. John’s emergency room physician, said he recently signed a five-year lease for the space that housed his clinic from early 1997 to November 2001, when he sold the business to Texas-based Concentra Medical Centers for less than $2 million.

At the time, Mobley hailed the sale as the perfect partnership: He stayed on as the center’s salaried director, and Concentra, which then had more than 200 occupational health centers in 32 states, brought to the table its reputation and technological prowess.

But the partnership floundered.

After two years of struggling with what he called an “intolerable situation,” Mobley resigned, invoking a noncompete agreement with his erstwhile employer. The pact prohibited him from working in occupational medicine in the Springfield area for the past two years – time he spent traveling to Guatemala, where he has been instrumental in reopening an abandoned hospital and training physicians.

In anticipation of the agreement’s expiration, Mobley began searching last year for the right place to reopen Dr. Gil’s. He said he was prepared to buy property on North Eastgate Avenue when he learned that landlord Ernie Giddens, owner of Redneck Trailer Supplies, might not renew Concentra’s lease at 3000 E. Division St.

Mobley said Giddens agreed to lease him the building, starting April 1.

“It’s a dream come true,” Mobley said. “We are ready to go.”

Concentra complaints

Mobley is perhaps Concentra’s most outspoken local critic, but some of his former client businesses were likewise displeased with the clinic’s level of service.

Mobley said changes began immediately when Concentra scaled back the clinic’s hours of operation. Under Mobley’s ownership, the care center was open 24 hours, which he views as necessary for treating workplace injuries and illnesses.

Mobley said Concentra pressured him and other physicians at the medical center to target a certain percentage of physical therapy patients. He said he perceived the company’s approach as largely profit-driven.

At Trailiner trucking firm, 2169 E. Blaine St., Human Resources Director Liz Whitener said she’s “counting the days” until Mobley reopens his clinic.
“These people aren’t as accommodating,” she said of Concentra. “(Mobley) goes way out of his way to help you and your employees. He would treat my employees at a moment’s notice. … He is the epitome of what a doctor should be.”

Sandy Cendroski, the human resources assistant and nurse at Solo Cup Co., 1100 N. Glenstone Ave., said limited hours and paperwork delays prompted her company to sever ties with Concentra not long after Mobley left. Cendroski said Solo plans to reestablish its exclusive relationship with Mobley when he reopens Dr. Gil’s in April. Solo has been sending its employees mostly to Dr. Charles Mauldin, owner of Springfield Physical Medicine.

When asked about the range of complaints, Concentra Director of Marketing and Communications Craig Conditt would only address patient wait times in a prepared statement.

“Since injuries are unpredictable, they must be treated when they occur,” Conditt wrote. “This sometimes causes longer wait times for those patients visiting Concentra for non-injury care such as routine follow-ups, physical exams, drug screens, et cetera.”

Concentra will relocate its medical center in Springfield, according to Conditt, who said the new location would be formally announced when plans are finalized. Mobley believes Concentra plans to share space in the Springfield Physical Medicine building, but neither Conditt nor Mauldin would confirm.

Few changes

Mobley said Dr. Gil’s will operate much as it did before he sold to Concentra.

The walk-in clinic primarily focuses on workers’ compensation claims and will offer around-the-clock treatment of on-the-job injuries as well as pre-employment drug and alcohol testing. Mobley also plans to expand his services by adding physical therapy.

Dr. Gil’s will handle billing in house, and Mobley expects to hire about 20 employees. He said he’s already been in touch with many employees at several local doctors’ offices who are interested in working at the clinic.

Mobley said he is still working out the clinic’s ownership with an unnamed full-time partner who is also a doctor. He’s also considering bringing in other partners.

“I’ve got two other full-time doctors waiting to jump in, and I’ll offer them a percentage of the business because I want ownership,” he said. “That’s what’s going to get us out of bed in the middle of the night to take care of these injured workers. … That’s what Concentra lacked.”

Source: Springfield Business Journal
Original Publication Date: January 14, 2008