MISSION NEWS & ARTICLES Diamond Back to Host Mission Benefit The Presbyterian Medical Care Mission wants to add more space and expand its hours because of an increase in patients. The clinic, which serves the non-emergency medical needs of low-income area residents, wants to raise $1 million to $1.5 million to add 8,000 to 10,000 square feet of space, said David Kraly, program director. "We want to build some community awareness," he said. The new facility would be in the same complex where the Medical Care Mission now operates, 302 Medical Drive, off East Highway 80 on land provided by the city. Since the mission was founded in 1983, it has treated more than 40,000 patients from a 22-county area across the Big Country. There are 20,000 patient files currently maintained. Kraly said the mission could serve more patients with more space. The proposed building would triple the mission's size. The medical clinic is operating with 4,000 square feet. If the new building becomes a reality, the medical clinic would move into the new building and the dental clinic would stay in the current building. The dental mission was added in 1999 and serves 3,000 patients a year. Kraly said people could be better served if the mission could expand its hours from weekdays to add evenings and half days on Saturdays. "When the folks come to see us now, they have to miss a half a day's work and they are hourly employees," Kraly said. Patients pay on a sliding fee scale based on their income, which is rated "extremely low," "very low" or "low." Just more than 90 percent of the patients are classified as "extremely low" income, said Scott Golding, the mission's executive director. The mission treats medical issues ranging from diabetes to the flu with two full-time physicians and three nurses. Eighty to 100 volunteers help keep the facility running. "We don't set a bone or stitch, but we help with everything else," Kraly said. The mission is mainly funded by donations from private entities as well as grants from other nonprofits. All other money is collected from patients' fees. |