Work is underway to establish a free medical clinic for uninsured Coweta County residents.
An $80,000 federal grant has been secured to assist with the clinic’s planning stages, and local volunteers are well on their way with a donated medical facility located at the corner of Jefferson and Lee streets in Newnan.
The grant application was a joint venture of Piedmont Newnan Hospital, the PAPP Clinic, the Coweta County Health Department and One Roof Ecumenical Alliance Outreach.
The Coweta Samaritan Clinic “will offer free basic health services to Coweta County citizens that meet need criteria,” organizers said in a press release this week.
Recent Census figures show more than 14,000 Coweta residents from 18-64 years old do not have health insurance, officials said.
The grant will allow the clinic to begin evaluating specific community needs and developing the services to meet those needs, organizers said.
Planning for the facility began last year as volunteers from the local medical community came together. Dr. Kay Crosby will likely serve as the clinic’s director.
“The population of Coweta County is growing. Unfortunately, many between the ages of 18 and 64 do not have a doctor-patient relationship,” Dr. Crosby said. “These are citizens who work very hard, but do not make enough to afford insurance, and make too much to qualify for Medicaid.”
The clinic’s location was donated by Newnan physician Donald Bass. The clinic is seeking bids to remodel the space to suit its needs with hopes of opening as early as next year, organizers said.
“The population of Coweta County is growing. Unfortunately, many between the ages of 18 and 64 do not have a doctor-patient relationship,” Dr. Crosby said. “These are citizens who work very hard, but do not make enough to afford insurance, and make too much to qualify for Medicaid.”
Coweta Samaritan Clinic will be a faith-based facility open to all in need regardless of their religious affiliation.
“The clinic’s faith-based status is simply a way to offer both patients and volunteers a sense of hope,” Crosby said.
Several churches in the community are currently devoting half of their Wednesday “Lenten Luncheon” donations to the new clinic. In addition, interested donors may contact the clinic by mail at P.O. Box 963, Newnan, GA 30264 or via e-mail at csckrc@gmail.com.
