All (Docs’) Hands on Deck

Since Montauk is still without a full-time doctor at its medical care facility, Meeting House Lane Medical Associates, it’s all hands on deck in the nearby medical community. Dr. George Dempsey of East Hampton Family Medicine is now offering hours on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at his East Hampton office and will soon add evening hours.

Prior to January, Dr. Dempsey ran East Hampton Urgent Care on Pantigo Road. Meeting House Lane, an affiliate of Southampton Hospital, has moved into that building and is now offering urgent care five days a week. Dr. Dempsey moved his staff to his practice in the health care facility a bit farther west on Pantigo Road and is fully prepared to handle any overload from Montauk, he said on Monday.

The 15 employees include Dr. Maryellen Benito, Jerry Simons and Steve Neveroski, both of whom are physician assistants, and Erin McKay and Linda Faszczewski, nurse practitioners. Dr. Dempsey’s office also offers substance-abuse programs and counseling and smoking-cessation programs, as well as a social worker and a dietitian.

Drs. Lara DeSanti-Siska and Elizabeth White-Fricker of the Meeting House Lane practice in Wainscott are each practicing one day a week in the Montauk office. Additionally, Nancy Kegan, a nurse practitioner, joined the staff last week. Meeting House Lane doctors are computer-networked so that patients can visit any of its facilities and their medical records are instantly available to the attending physician or practitioner.

Jay Levine, a Montauk resident and member of Southampton Hospital’s board of directors, said Monday that Meeting House Lane is very close to recruiting a physician for the Montauk office. “However, a contract has not yet been signed, so it’s premature to say anything further. Nevertheless, we are confident this arrangement will be finalized shortly,” he said.