Clinic working to reach those in need of medical care

Published 4:03 am Monday, July 1, 2024

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The City of Port Arthur Health Department’s Primary Health Care Clinic is reaching out to underserved individuals that meet eligibility requirements in the Golden Triangle.

Nurse Practitioner Shawn Allison said some people in the area might not be aware of the services that are offered.

“We want to reach out to as many people as we can,” Allison said.

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Services offered

Rosaland Shelton, eligibility and billing clerk, said the clinic offers well women and well men exams, lab work, x-ray, EKG, pregnancy test and sick visits.

The clinic is for ages 18 and above.

Allison said the Primary Health care Clinic is there for the public.

He said staff often have patients who have not had medical care in some time and issues are found.

“If we find issues that they need to go to a specialist, we arrange that and we try to get them into specialty clinics at discount rates,” he said.

The cost of a regular visit to the clinic ranges from zero to $30 based on income and other factors.

Eligibility requirements

Patients must meet eligibility requirements, which include:

  • Must be a Texas resident
  • Must not have any insurance or Medicaid
  • Must met income requirements
  • They can qualify if they receive WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children), or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

Allison said since the word has been getting out about the program, staff members have seen higher numbers of patients. And they don’t turn anyone away if they qualify.

“And that’s what we want,” Shelton said. “We want more people to come and want t stay busy.”

The clinic

The clinic has interpreters to aid with the Spanish speaking population, which is another way the clinic is reaching out to medically underserved.

The clinic is located at 5860 9th Ave., Port Arthur, entrance number 7.

For more information, call Rosaland Shelton at 409-983-8896.