The Arcola Health Center officially opened its doors Monday to begin serving those in nearby areas who have immediate healthcare needs.
Delta Regional Medical Center (DRMC) Chief Executive Officer Scott Christensen said Arcola Health Center will serve as the only healthcare facility in the Arcola community and will offer primary care and specialty services to improve the health of the residents served.
“The Arcola Health Center is created to meet the healthcare needs of not only Arcola but the surrounding area,” Christensen said. “We take our responsibility as the health care leader in the Delta Region very seriously and continue to look for resources to improve health outcomes and the quality of life for our residents. Establishing the Arcola Health Center is one of the many ways DRMC continues to strive to be a center of excellence.”
Having recently undergone internal and external renovations, Arcola Health Center, 108 Main St., includes ample parking for all patients and their families.
In addition, the clinic is staffed by highly trained certified nurse practitioners and nurses along with medical specialty physicians rotating through the clinic to offer essential services to the area.
Another attribute of the clinic is the provision of certain laboratory and diagnostic testing which will allow patients the convenience of having their medical tests done at the time of service without having to travel to DRMC or other facilities.
Office manager for the center, Amber Thompson, pointed out the advantage of offering walk-in services which are a little different in comparison to other health care centers and clinics because so many are “appointment only.”
“We’re also offering the walk-in patients service as well and we’re just trying to give the people in this area a place to go that’s not far from where they live so its open to any and all ages,” Thompson said.
The Arcola Health Center currently has two nurse practitioners and will be doing primary care services and rotating specialists depending on the patient’s needs.
DRMC executive director of ancillary services Janet Benzing said, “Our goal has always been to expand healthcare services to areas in need so this is a natural progression of our plans. The Arcola Health Center staff will work to improve health outcomes to all we serve.”
When the clinic began its renovations in July, Arcola Mayor Cora Burnside said it was great to have a nearby clinic for locals residents.
“It’s very important for people to have to go a short way,” she said, noting before now people needed to travel a long distance for primary healthcare needs.
“That’s what this means for our community,” she said.
Ramona Love, a long time resident of Arcola, said she for one is glad the town has a health center opening its doors because there are some people who simply don’t have the transportation to even get to the clinic in Hollandale.
“It’s easy access for those in Arcola to walk to the clinic to get the things they need to done,” Love said.
Love also said she appreciates the convenience of the health center possibly doing immunizations because parents wouldn’t have to travel all the way to Greenville or to a private physician to get it done.
“Sometimes there may be people that have sick children they can’t get to the doctor,” she sid, noting this health center eliminate a hassle.
Initial clinic hours are from 8 a.m. to noon Monday and Wednesday and 1-5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. For appointments or more information, call the Arcola Health Center at 662-807-1812.
