Quick Poll
Do you think Sarah Palin will be using her book tour to gauge a pulse of America in order to launch a run for U.S. President in 2012?
- Yes: 224
- Not Sure: 49
- No: 59
- Don't Care: 89
Total Votes:
Published Thursday, November 05, 2009 in Local
Backers push for low-cost health clinic
By Jeff Bishop
The Times-Herald
The Coweta Samaritan Clinic, Inc. is gearing up for a presentation to the Coweta County Hospital Authority Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
The people behind the clinic are trying to drum up support in the community for the new clinic, which will likely be located in a former medical office facility at the corner of Jefferson and Lee streets in downtown Newnan.
"This is a group of concerned citizens who want to get this done. I don't know if you'd call it a 'free clinic,' but it would be mainly for the uninsured and the underinsured," Alice Jackson, nursing director of the Coweta County Health Department, told the Board of Health at its Tuesday meeting at the health department building on Jackson Street.
"It won't be totally free," but services will likely be rendered on some type of sliding scale, she said.
"They have applied for a federal planning grant, and so we'll know in March whether they will receive that grant or not," said Jackson.
"My understanding is that, whether they receive the grant or not, they are going to proceed," she said.
The Coweta Samaritan Clinic is incorporating as a 501c3 organization, she said.
"And this is just now starting to gather support and momentum," said Jackson.
Dr. Kay Crosby will serve as the director, she said.
"We encourage the community to support this," said Jackson. "And we certainly want everyone to be aware of it. They are putting a lot of work into it. I'm really excited about it."
The clinic will serve mainly Coweta County residents, she said.
"It will be staffed primarily with volunteer physicians, retired nurses, and people like that," she said. "Maybe they'll even be able to get a dentist or two."
Dr. Crosby will make a presentation on behalf of the Samaritan Clinic at the the Nov. 10 hospital authority meeting, which will be held at the law offices of Sanders, Haugen, and Sears at 11 Perry St.
At the previous hospital authority meeting, secretary LouAnne Connell pitched the idea of the clinic to the board.
"A clinic is needed to alleviate the problem we have at our hospital emergency rooms," she said.
"A lot of people who don't have regular doctors or who don't have the money for insurance use the emergency room as a clinic," said Connell. That leads to an ER that's crowded with people suffering from sniffles and pink eye who would be better served elsewhere, she said.
"Maybe the hospital authority could be a part of addressing that situation," she said.
"I think this will be a very, very good thing," said Connell. "Kay Crosby will be the director, and the PAPP Clinic, Piedmont Newnan Hospital and One Roof will all be involved."
No state Certificate of Need will be required, she said.
All of the participants are "very excited" about the prospect of the new clinic, she said -- especially the county health department.
"This could really help them," said Connell. "We'll all be working together."
The new board is looking at the Good Samaritan clinic in Atlanta as a possible model for the facility, she said.
"It will be done right," said Connell.
Comment On This Story
Times-Herald.com does not necessarily agree with the comments posted below. Responsibility of comments rests solely with the writer. Comments posted in ALL CAPS will be deleted.
Submission of a comment does not guarantee publication. Comments will be posted by a moderator after being scanned for abusive language, relevance, etc. See our Comments FAQ for more details.
What makes you think I am a liberal. I just think that everyone deserves health care. BTW I make a living taking care of your problems and I work for the government. I just find it hard to believe that Christians would be so against a system that helps people out. I totally support this low cost clinic this state has a terrible income rate and far too many people below the poverty line It is time that people who benefit from all of this cheap labor pay for some health insurance. Did you know that if we taxed Medicare on incomes above 110,000 we would pay for Medicare for the next 85 years. Seems like Grandma deserves better.
Posted by chippy at 6:21 PM
Good comments.
Posted by Dash RIprock at 8:12 AM
Its obvious you liberals need all the help you can get. You all can not do anything for yourselves you have to have the gov babysit you. So someone has cancer from smoking they want stop smoking and then they don't go to the emergency room or doctor for care. They say they can not afford it. But yet people still do if you can't pay the bill there are ways around that. But you liberals don't seem to be able to take care of your problems. You want the gov to do it all for you.
Posted by Dash RIprock at 8:10 AM
You call yourself a Christian after a comment like that?
Posted by chippy at 6:59 PM
First off know one died from lack of health care. If they did it is their fault not the gov. Thats like saying abortion is caused from lack of health care.
Posted by Joe Cool at 8:05 AM
Moderator. It's really sad that you post some posts over 100 words, yet you didn't post mine that was over 100 words and it was clean. Love how you give special treatments to some and not to others. Not a true "open" comment blog. I don't know why I waste my time trying to get information out to others for a discussion via this newspaper.
Posted by Nunya at 10:06 AM
I feel that this is a great idea for the people of Coweta County to be able to get medical assistance when they need it. Too many people go sick and/or crippled when all they need is to be seen by a doctor.
Posted by Marjorie Hester at 12:53 PM
I have not heard of this type medical service in over 40 years. In my home town there were two physicians and a small county hospital. One doctor was a surgeon; the other a GP/OBGYN. The GP charged about $5 for an office visit. He saw about 75 to 90 patients some days. Most residents had no insurance. He once called me to his home to discuss a business issue. I was his accountant. His eyes appeared swollen. When I asked about them he told me he had been up all night (after working all day) with a mother and a difficult delivery. It was her third child. They had not yet paid for the first two. I thought they buried that type of Dedicated Service when we buried that GP in his late 40's of a heart attack. I know he did it for the mother and children. The father seemed to always have money for ball games, and such around town. Thanks to Dr. Crosby and the others for even thinking about such an organization. It will be a blessing. I hope it is not abused. Ed
Posted by Ed at 10:24 PM
The clinic is great and my guess anticipating some of the changes health care. There will be many more needing inexpensive services. Organizing it as a non-profit will keep it's focus on patient care instead of insurance care. Don't Need Washington is proud that in Lynn Westmoreland's Georgia District 3, only 102 people have been identified as having died from lack of health insurance. If the clinic is a success and Don't Need Washington is still forced to keep his employer based health care, that will be proof that the public option was never a threat to Don't Need Washington's lack of choice.
Posted by turfkiller at 6:31 PM
AMEN!!! This is something we desperately need in the community. Recently I had to carry my husband to the hospital ER on a Saturday and there were maybe 20 people ahead of him. Over half of these just needed regular medical treatment that would have easily been done in a clinic. We actually went to the Papp Clinic Sat clinic but they do not do stitches and he needed them so we went to the ER. Anyone who does not see the need for this should just go sit in the ER waiting area for a few hours. That would change their minds. Thank you Dr. Crosby for pushing for this.
Posted by Carla Brown at 11:22 AM
This is exciting. This makes sense. This is a GOOD thing for our community! Kudos to the forward-looking, caring professionals making this happen. Newnan/Coweta knows what's best for Newnan/Coweta, not Washington, D.C. Just say NO to a government takeover of the healthcare system!
Posted by Don't need Washington running it at 9:39 AM
Dr Crosby used to be my primary physician before she left her practice for time off with her children. I am so proud of her. She is a wonderful doctor and person!
Posted by Sue white at 7:43 AM
Most Popular
- Viewed
- Emailed
- Commented
- Biorkman's family asks everyone to 'stop sending cards'
- 81-year-old tries to set girlfriend on fire, sets house ablaze
- Schools continue search for thief
- Teen charged in string of robberies
- Judge denies new trial for wife convicted of killing her husband
- Rezoning denied on 54, 16; OK'd on Lower Fayetteville
- Police still hunting for runaway probation violator
- Arrest Log for 11/18/2009
- Newnan rallies past M.L. King, returns to quarterfinals
- Free community meal returns for 11th year
- 5-year-old wants Christmas cards
- A Better Way Ministries makes move to Senoia
- Teen charged in string of robberies
- Electronics recycling Wednesday afternoon at Newnan High School
- 81-year-old tries to set girlfriend on fire, sets house ablaze
- Rezoning denied on 54, 16; OK'd on Lower Fayetteville
- Police: Mail carrier found drunk, eating noodles
- Newnan has 4 voices on water panel
- Foundation backs charity clinics like one being proposed in Newnan
- Cougars roar back in second half to return to quarterfinals
- Be aware there are increased patrols on roadways
- Northgate's AAAA state title reign continues for third-straight year
- Obesity, bad health troubling sign of times
- Senator shares bad budget news with teachers
- Rezoning denied on 54, 16; OK'd on Lower Fayetteville
- There's talk of a future need for an air traffic control tower
- High school coaches under pressure to win
- Schools continue search for thief
- Jobless rate rises; many job seekers 'giving up'
- Defense to be King on Friday
11/10/2009
Link To This Comment
I think the clinic is a great idea and something that coweta county needs!!
Posted by b at 7:44 PM