Alternative Medical Practice and Dickson St. Boutique Highlight New Openings

TruHealth Family Care
Owner: Dr. Mark Miller
Address: 2630 East Citizens Drive,
Ste. 3,
Fayetteville
Phone: 479-527-9966
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.truhealthfamilycare.com
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday
Startup date: July 1, 2009
Membership-based primary care might not be a new idea in the medical community, but it is a relatively fresh one in Northwest Arkansas.

Dr. Mark Miller believes it’s also the answer for a lot of individuals and families looking for affordable health care.

“We knew there was a need out there for people with no insurance, people with high deductibles – essentially people who pay cash for their medical care,” said Miller, who opened TruHealth Family Care in a 3,500-SF space in Fayetteville’s Crossover area on July 1.

Miller is quick to add he’s also able to provide small business-owners “an effective way to manage cost” in terms of providing medical care for employee groups.

“I think this is the best way for me and these patients to do business,” Miller said.

Here’s the way it works: Patients pay a one-time enrollment fee ($99 for individuals, $150 for families) and a monthly fee (starting at $59) for membership. Corporate rates are similarly structured.
Subsequent office visits are $25 whether they require standard office procedures, lab tests and X-rays, or physical exams.

“Whatever you need to fully evaluate you is what you get,” Miller said. “We want people to be pro-active and this plan allows you to do that.

“You’ll get the care you need.”

Miller’s staff currently consists of four full-time employees and one part-time worker. He plans to keep his membership list between 1,000 and 1,200 in an effort to guarantee prompt service.

“I’m basically on a retainer if you’re a member,” Miller said.

Monroe Boutique
Owner: Liz Masching
Address: 628 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville
Phone: 479-287-4515
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.monroeboutique.com
Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday
Startup date: Oct. 31, 2009

If the face behind Monroe Boutique looks familiar, it might be because its owner works a few doors down Dickson Street.

Liz Masching, a hairstylist at Black Sheep Salon, has opened a women’s clothing and accessories store in the 1,100 SF space that formerly housed Snapdragon shoe store. Masching has three part-time employees so she can split time between both shops.

“But this is definitely my main focus right now,” she said of Monroe Boutique.

Masching joked that the name of the shop stems from her “sick obsession” with Marilyn Monroe, and there are some glitzy offerings at the boutique. Masching said some dresses, though, are priced as low as $25.

In addition to dresses, Monroe Boutique features skirts, tops, pants and accessories. Masching said she purposely has kept inventory relatively low at this point, largely due to her own preference as a shopper.

“I don’t want to have to dig through piles to find something,” she said.

Submit tips about new businesses in Northwest Arkansas to Rob Keys at [email protected] or 479-725-0394, ext. 323.