Longview Regional Medical Center announces the first month of operation in Kilgore, for their Longview Occupational Medicine Clinic – Kilgore, which provides convenient service to the client companies it has been serving from its Longview facility for over 10 years.

LOMC-Kilgore opened March 31 in the former emergency room of Laird Memorial Hospital in Kilgore, located at 1612 S. Henderson Blvd.    

Leading the Kilgore staff is Dr. Lester Tarbutton, trained in Occupational Medicine at the of   He came to East Texas from , where he was medical director for a large occupational medicine clinic.  Other staff members are Shelly Taylor, LOMC Director of Regional Clinics; Dale Hively, medical technician, and Kristi Rey, front office assistant.

Being in closer proximity to the almost 50 Kilgore companies that already utilize LOMC’s services ensures even quicker response to those companies’ ongoing needs, said Mrs. Taylor.  “Since we’ve been in Kilgore, we’ve already had a lot of visits by the major companies here,” she said.  “The Kilgore clinic exists only to serve Kilgore’s industrial and business community”, said added

 “You might say we’re the ‘gatekeeper’ for the industrial community to maintain compliance with OSHA and worker compensation requirements and regulations”, said Dr. Tarbutton. “We treat patients first, but we keep the company’s interest in mind as well.”

The clinic provides post-offer medical exams, including DOT and pre-employment exams.  Additional services include audiometric and pulmonary function testing, respirator clearance, EKGs and x-rays, as well as drug screening and breath alcohol testing. 

All LOMC drug screen collectors are DOT certified, and LOMC utilizes an NIDA approved lab with MRO services available for full compliance with federally regulated drug testing program.  After-hours post-accident drug and alcohol testing are available upon request, said Mrs. Taylor.

 LOMC occupies space in ’s former emergency room.  A total of four exam rooms accommodate the various equipment required for comprehensive pre-employment physicals, as well as medical treatment of minor injuries.  Incoming patients with more serious injuries will be transferred from LOMC Kilgore for hospital treatment elsewhere, said Dr. Tarbutton.

In addition to routine services provided by LOMC, Dr. Tarbutton is available for in-plan consultations that include preventive health analysis of workplace illness and injury patterns, complex case management, and OSHA and TDI compliance issues.

Mrs. Taylor emphasized that LOMC- Kilgore seeks to work with companies “to build their own protocols” to customize the services specifically needed by the companies.  Amanda Nobles, Economic Development Director for Kilgore Chamber of Commerce said, “LOMC- Kilgore is a welcome answer to ongoing needs that have been expressed for many years by Kilgore’s business community, and we’re thrilled to have them in Kilgore.”