Jax Beach To Open Free Clinic Next Year

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL -- It may not look like much from the outside, but behind the door on the 800 block of 6th Avenue South a small army is hard at work building a new adult health clinic.

By the end of the year, those uninsured or those who've fallen through the healthcare safety net will be able to get care here.

Outside today, neighbors came by to an open house for a hot meal and health screening for everything from high blood pressure to diabetes.

"I just had a flu shot done," said Alicia Payton, who brought her children, Trinity and Josiah. Today she got a flu shot to be healthy for them.

"Well, I've never had one done and my mother (was) the one who actually talked me into coming down and getting one. I don't have any insurance, so this was great," said Payton.

Brigitte Bosh helps care for her grandchildren, and while the county health department a mile away would take care of the kids, she's pleased for the adults who'll be treated here.

"So I'm very pleased, especially for the people that can't get insurance like the homeless people," said Bosch.

Last year, more than $10 million was spent in area emergency rooms treating the indigent and uninsured. This clinic will help close the gap in tight economic times.

"People are in fact choosing. Medicine (versus) food, medicine (versus) rent," said I.M. Sulzbacher Center's Cindy Funkhouser.

"So what they're doing is they are delaying care until it becomes so critical that they sometimes do have to go to the E.R. That costs the taxpayers a lot more money because they're indigent and you know? It's just a vicious cycle!"

The clinic is located adjacent to the food bank, B.E.A.M. and was first conceived by members of Christ Episcopal Church in Ponte Vedra. Their efforts rallied a combined push from Baptist Beaches Medical Center, the I.M. Sulzbacher Center, and the Player's Championship from the PGA Tour, which donated $125,000 to the clinic Thursday.

Federal Grants totaling $1.9 million dollars provide the bulk of the clinics building and operational expenses.

©2009 First Coast News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed.