MIFFLINBURG — More than 30 years ago, Dr. Charles Fasano began the Family Practice Center in a single office in Mifflinburg.

He never expected the practice to evolve as it has.

“I thought I made a mistake,” he said. “I was standing there waiting for people to come in.”

But today, the practice has grown to 425 employees in 21 locations. There are about 40 to 45 physicians and 25 physician assistants who see around 27,500 patients a month at the varying sites.

The FPC — located in Snyder, Union, Northumberland, Dauphin, Perry and Lycoming counties — is an independent business and physicians are owners or have the option of being the owners at some point. All businesses are personally financed and funded.

Dr. Domenick Ronco joined the practice in 1980 and Fasano said it doubled the office and has been growing since.

Today, FPC focuses on primary care as well as internal medicine, pediatrics and family care. The locations are easily accessible for patients so excessive travel time isn’t required.

Lab work and X-rays are handled by the doctors, and many patients find it easier to have these procedures completed at the office than having to travel further distance.

Robert Werba, of Mifflinburg, a patient of the facility since the beginning, said that in the past, any lab work he had to have done meant traveling out of town.

Now “we can get things done without having to run 20 to 30 minutes,” he said. “We’re able to do stuff where it’s convenient.”

Other services FPC offers include a team of doctors at the area hospitals who dedicate their time to see patients rather than requiring the physicians to travel.

Ronco said the practice is also working on a concept to streamline care in following up with those who are at risk of ending up back in a hospital after being discharged, or those with complicated medical issues.

Continual work with updating electronic medical records and integrating with those at Sunbury Community Hospital, Geisinger Medical Center and Evangelical Community Hospital is also an ongoing procedure.

With the economy the way it is, Fasano said, people are losing their jobs and their health care, but FPC is doing its best to help.

FPC has always accepted public assistance and welfare and will continue to do so. “It’s our responsibility to give back to the community and help when needed,” he said.