The Doctor Will See You Now!
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: February 26, 2011
The doctor is in for the panhandle’s uninsured.
A brand new community medical clinic in Freeport is bringing in new patients quickly.
“Hello Mrs. Johnson…can you come back with me please?”
These are words that Josephine Johnson hasn’t heard for awhile she very rarely goes to any kind of doctor “…because I could never afford one. And the only way I could have is to go to Pensacola, which is way too far.”
But this is Josephine’s second doctor’s visit at the newly opened Community Health Center in Walton County. She lives close and has watched its construction from the ground up but never expected to be able to take advantage of it “…I watched them building on it. then my brother in law came over and talked to them and explained my situation, because to have to keep going to different clinics and arrange transportation and everything…and they explained that they took Medicaid and that they’ll go by my income and I was like ‘oh, wow, that’s great!’”
Josephine pays a three dollar co-pay on the non profit clinic’s sliding scale that’s based on income. The clinic also takes Medicare. But the clinic takes care of more than just the patient’s medical needs.
The medical side is just one part of the equation. Come right across the way and there’s a whole dental clinic as well.
Josephine explains “…I have bad teeth and I need my teeth fixed so I came over here. Everybody’s been so courteous and nice and it’s great!”
But the clinic also serves those that are uninsured, like Shaun Brown. He just heard about the clinic and hasn’t become a patient yet, but wanted to check it out Friday morning “…so far I am going to see about the first appointment and see what happens from there and take it from there.”
Brown says he’d like to get his teeth fixed and hasn’t been able to before now because he became disabled, lost his job, and lost his insurance. He believes that the new clinic will be a huge help to the community “…it’s something that Freeport actually needs…there’s a lot of people around Freeport that is low income and stuff, so hopefully it will work out for the better for everybody.”
You can call 880-6568 to schedule your appointment.
