Pediatrics group joins Beacon system

Jan. 31--GOSHEN -- Bristol Street Pediatric Associates will be joining Beacon Medical GroupApril 1.

Bristol Street Pediatric Associates has offices at 1627 E. Bristol St. in Elkhart and in the Elkhart General Hospital Family Medicine Center, 2120 Rieth Blvd., in Goshen. The medical practice for children has six physicians, Lynette Valentin, Sandra Morgan, Mary Alice Reid, Andrew Lapadat, Wendy Warner-Lapadat and Jared Dhaemers and two nurse practitioners, Rosie Eash and Jody Srof.

"Bristol Street has been friends for many, many years," said Cindy Hayes, director of physician practices at Elkhart General Hospital, a member of the Beacon Health System.

Hayes said with the changes in health care and the uncertainty with high deductable insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act, "They decided they would like to have some alignment."

Hayes said Beacon's goal is to improve the health of people in local communities and the addition of Bristol Street Pediatrics will help achieve that goal.

"We are pleased to have such a quality group join our medical group," Hayes said.

Patients won't notice any changes, according to Hayes. She said the medical records system will stay the same and care will continue as usual. Beacon will be sending patients a notice about the pending affiliation.

Bristol Street Pediatrics is just the latest affiliation for Beacon Medical Group. Last August Middlebury Family Physicians joined the group.

Beacon Medical Group is part of the Beacon Health System, which is a partnership between Elkhart General Hospital in Elkhart and Memorial Hospital of South Bend. The system employs more than 6,000 employees and volunteers, according to the company.

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