By JIMMY LAWTON LISBON -- Lisbon Medical Group is up and operating under new practitioner after the recent departure of Alan Winney, who provided care at the facility for more than 35 years. …
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By JIMMY LAWTON
LISBON -- Lisbon Medical Group is up and operating under new practitioner after the recent departure of Alan Winney, who provided care at the facility for more than 35 years.
Winney’s successor, Ernie Cougler, said he intends provide the same level of care residents have come to expect from Winney.
Cougler has worked as a registered nurse for about 30 years and received his physician's assistant credentials in 2009.
He said Winney approached him about taking over the practice in Lisbon, and the town council supported his recommendation unanimously.
"I didn't think he was going to retire but he did," Cougler said. "Al sort of grabbed me by the ears and told me I was going to do it, and I was very honored to have the opportunity."
Cougler reopened the County Route 20 clinic in July.
He said his goal is to provide easy affordable access to everything from stitches to sore throats.
"A lot of people have to wait three or four weeks to see their doctor and people can do that when they are sick," he said. "That's why emergency rooms are over filled. It's not right and we are here to relieve that problem a bit."
Cougler said a flat fee of $40 will be charged at a visit, and follow-up for things like stitches won't result in an extra charge.
"The pay scale did go up a little bit because of increasing costs, but we aren't trying to get rich," he said. "I am more than willing to work with anybody about finances."
Cougler said all the Lisbon Medical Group records stayed with the facility, so past patients will already be on file.
Coulger will also be offering blood draws. He said people who need lab work done can have blood drawn at the clinic where it will be sent to Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center.
The Lisbon Medical Group will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
Cougler is a Heuvelton Central School Graduate, who received his nursing degree from SUNY Canton. He received his Nurse Practitioner's License form Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.