Affordable health care has begun in Athens without federal assistance

By Robby Robertson Staff Writer

Health care has been a huge concern for more than a decade. For the past 10 to 15 years, the government has been on the heels of an overhaul system that could make health care available for everyone. So far, that has not happened.

But for residents of Athens and Henderson County, the calvary has arrived.

Disciples Clinic held its dedication ceremonies Tuesday morning at the Cain Center, and a ribbon cutting at the newly-remodeled clinic at 604 York St. in Athens, for what will be a premier medical facility for people without health-care coverage.

“God has blessed this organization and this project,” board member Steve Grant said at the dedication. “This endeavor has brought the entire community together – spanning different cultures and beliefs. It truly is a non-denominational, faith-based initiative. We should be proud as a community to take part in this.”

The idea for a clinic to help the poor and needy was conceived by Gary Williamson MD. As an emergency physician at Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, Williamson said he saw people every day who had none, or very little means to pay for health care.

What he didn’t know was how his life was going to take a drastic medical turn.

“I began to have kidney failure in 2003,” Williamson said. “I knew I had problems with my kidneys as far back as 1983, but it didn’t really get bad until much later. I had to go on dialysis in March of that year.”

In March of 2004, Williamson had to have both kidneys removed, as well as his spleen. The problems left him in the hospital for five weeks. He said this is what gave him plenty of time to think.

“I continued to work the whole time when I wasn’t in the hospital, on a part-time basis, thankfully because of the help of my co-workers,” he said. “I prayed a lot, and asked the Lord why he was saving me from this.

“Why he was leaving me on this earth when I had gone through so much that should have cost me my life.”

Williamson said that through the course of his work, he became aware of the people who had to depend on the emergency department for their care.

“It is really a heartbreaker to see someone out there working their fannies off to make ends meet,” he said. “You can’t walk in and out of the emergency room for less than $500 to $600, even if there is hardly anything wrong with you.”

He said everything came together one day at an outreach visionary meeting at his church, First Christian Church in Athens. The church was trying to decide what their next outreach project would be. Williamson offered this idea, and it grew from there.

“It was then that I knew why God had saved me,” he said. “It was to help people in need with medical treatment.”

“The thought of providing help for people who are trying to help themselves is a very admirable challenge,” Grant said. “With just a thought and a prayer, with little ideas of how to get it funded and no location, somehow he knew God would prevail.”

Williamson did all of this while receiving a kidney transplant and both knees replaced, Grant said.

The ER doctor said the clinic would not have been possible without the help of many people, such as the Cain and Murchison Foundations, United Way and the Willingham Foundation of Tyler.

The board of directors for the clinic include: Clay Estes, President; Steve Grant, Vice President; Neil Hunter, Treasurer; Barbara Pettycrew, Secretary; the Rev. Joe Warren; Jan Wiley; Steve Woodruff, DDS; Melvin Bateman, JD; Richard David, MD; Ty Morris; Joe Mike Murphy, DDS; and Joe Ed Smith, MD.

The staff of the Clinic includes Williamson, Layton Holt and Dora Walls.

The clinic will serve as a medical and dental facility. The building was donated by Primera Iglesia Bautista of Athens. It had to be remodeled for the clinic’s use, while a lot of the materials, and all of the labor was donated, Williamson said.

Williamson said the clinic will begin screening for patients next week. The requirements are that a person work and live in Henderson County. They must work at least 20 hours a week, and show proof that they do.

They must not have health insurance, and no sponsored government programs such as Medicare or Medicaid. They must be 19-44 years of age, and have a total household income of less than twice the poverty level.

Patients must provide a picture ID or drivers license, and contribute a small amount to help pay for the cost of service.

“That might be $25,” Williamson said. “But it would not be much more than that.”

For more information, go to their Website at www.disciplesclinic.org.