Rockwood Clinic PS, the big doctors group here owned by Community Health Systems Inc., of Franklin, Tenn., plans to open its first clinic in Deer Park soon.

The new location, to be called Rockwood Deer Park Clinic, will be a family practice and is expected to open Dec. 13, says Marie Brumfield, a clinical director for Rockwood.

"It's a growing community, and we feel that we can make an impact there and do some good things," Brumfield says.

The new clinic will occupy a 3,000-square-foot former dental office at 20 E. J Street, which Rockwood remodeled at a cost of about $80,000, she says. The office will have seven exam rooms plus one procedure room, and will offer radiology services and basic lab work, she says.

Dr. Daniel Stoop is to be the practice's physician, and five additional support staff members, including a radiology technician, have been newly hired or relocated from one of Rockwood's other area offices, Brumfield says.

She says some of Rockwood's specialist doctors already travel to outreach clinics in Colville and Chewelah, so the new clinic in Deer Park will continue to expand Rockwood's presence north of Spokane.

"We are always looking for areas to expand to reach out to areas of need," she says, adding that Rockwood also is looking to increase its services further in Spokane Valley and the West Plains.

"We're looking at spaces to lease and grow there, too" she says. "Our partnership with CHS is helping our ability to recruit, and we are feeling a need for family practices in the community, so we're excited to be able to do that."