Hope for Destin's Free Medical Clinic
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Updated: 7:51 PM Sep 3, 2008
Hope for Destin's Free Medical Clinic
For nearly a year, members of Destin Church of Christ have been asking city officials permission to build and operate a free medical clinic.
Posted: 5:33 PM Sep 3, 2008
Email Address: Alex Denis
Destin Health Care
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For nearly a year, members of Destin Church of Christ have been asking city officials permission to build and operate a free medical clinic.

Tuesday night, city council members granted the request. Members of the church are anxious to start construction on the new facility.

Members of Destin Church of Christ have spent years dreaming about the possibility of running Hope Medical Clinic. Now, that dream is closer to reality.

The project's director, Tim Roberts, says the idea to start a free health care clinic came directly from a community need.

Tim Roberts, Medical clinic director, said, "We're trying to meet those people who are currently working. They're out there participating in the community, they're just in a situation where their employers can't provide them with health care. We want to step in and meet that need."

The Florida Department of Health's most recent statistics show nearly 22, 500 Okaloosa County residents don't have health insurance. Over 21,000 of those are employed. Destin city officials say they couldn't ignore those figures.

Craig Barker, Mayor of Destin, said, "There's a tremendous need here in Okaloosa County for health services, and the statistics prove that the majority of Americans don't have good quality health care, so the church is trying to provide that serve here in our community."

The project's manager hopes to turn this room into the clinic's lobby, but donations are needed to cover the cost of construction.

When construction begins, offices will eventually serve as examine rooms. The clinic organizers say they've already lined up several doctors willing to treat the community.

Dr. Luke Lentz said, "We're working under the Volunteer Health Care Program, which means the liability issues are covered by the state of Florida. We're volunteering our time for free. If doctors would volunteer one day a month or a day every other month, we'd have a full blown clinic."

The church hopes to start serving the uninsured working people of Okaloosa County sometime early next year.

If you are interested in making a tax deductible donation, you can send a check to the church, designating it's for the medical clinic. That address is 150 Beach Drive in Destin.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Claudine Location: Oklahoma City, OK on Jan 7, 2009 at 12:25 PM

I am a former resident of Ft. Walton Beach. I think it is a wonderful idea you have for starting a free clinic there. Also I would recommend that you check into getting some kind of affiliation with RX for FL if there is such an organization there. I currently go to a free clinic here which is also run by a church here. They have an affiliation with RX for OK which has been most benifical to me. Also I hope you will also consider including some people maybe ona case by case basis who do not work. Lots of people need medcial assistance. I
Posted by: Hershel Adams Location: Niceville on Sep 6, 2008 at 01:50 PM

Until Hope Clinic gets up and running the those whose household income is less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Rate can be treated at the Crossroads Center Medical Clinic in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. Call 850- 226-6928 for the time of the next required financial screening. Some of the services provided by Crossroads Center are: Primary Care Preventive Care, Limited Specialty Care Services, Limited Pharmaceutical Services, Case Management and Patient Education, Ongoing Care for Chronic Illnesses and Conditions and Limited Lab Service. Believing in the worth of all people as created by God, Crossroads Center delivers quality healthcare and other related professional services to low-income, uninsured adults through creative collaborative partnerships with our community and provides free access to primary care to those most in need. We are committed to deliver services in a caring, supporting environment that respects the dignity of each patient and demonstrates the love expressed by Jesus Christ.
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