Mercy Clinic welcomes new providers

Mercy Clinic recently welcomed two family medicine physicians who will provide temporary coverage until three new physicians permanently join Mercy Clinic in Guthrie and north Edmond next summer. 

Dr. Ken Bowlware and Dr. Kacie Cassaday, both family medicine physicians, temporarily care for patients of all ages at the Mercy Clinic on South Academy Road in Guthrie. Cassaday also sees patients on a temporary basis at Mercy Clinic’s Waterloo location in Edmond.

According to a report from the Association of American Medical Colleges, we will face a potential shortage of 124,000 physicians nationwide by 2025. The report shows that Oklahoma has the eighth lowest number of physicians providing patient care per 100,000 population in the United States.

These shortages are even more real in rural communities.

Across the country, about one in four people live in rural areas, but only one in 10 physicians practice in those areas, according to the Office of Rural Health Policy.

Because of the potential physician shortages, especially in rural communities, Mercy has made a strong commitment to recruiting new physicians and providers.

“Over the past few years, Mercy has worked hard to recruit new providers to Logan County,” said Josh Tucker, administrator of Mercy Hospital Logan County. “As always, we want to make sure the people in our community have access to all the services they need without having to leave the area. We are thankful for the temporary care Drs. Bowlware and Cassaday are providing in our community and look forward to the three new physicians joining Mercy Clinic in the Guthrie and north Edmond area next summer.”

To make an appointment with Bowlware or Cassaday at Mercy Clinic Primary Care-Guthrie Academy, located at 205 S. Academy Road in Guthrie, call 405-282-9449. To make an appointment with Cassaday at Mercy Clinic Primary Care-Edmond Waterloo, located at 301 E. Waterloo in Edmond, call 405-715-2000.