CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — It's a significant initiative that aims to make sure everyone has access to health care.
In the coming weeks, a brand new non-profit called the Compassionate Care Clinic will be opening its doors in Corpus Christi.
The clinic will provide medical services specifically for adult patients who are uninsured.
According to Census.gov, it's estimated 21 percent of Nueces County's population is uninsured.
The new clinic is making sure those in the community who are part of that statistic are able to see a doctor and get the health care they're needing at no cost.
Medical director Andrew Aoshima said from the moment you walk through the doors at 1660 S. Staples they want folks to feel welcomed.
"Feeling that they are in good hands, they have a place to go and they just have a sense of relief," he said.
Aoshima along with Executive Director Brittany Wendl are counting down the days until the opening of the Compassionate Care Clinic in six points.
"We really want to establish ourselves as a staple for this community," Aoshima said.
The clinic is a brainchild of Dr. John and Lynette Navar who over the course of several decades in the Coastal Bend saw first-hand the great need in the community.
"If a person has good health insurance they can get just about any kind of care they want but one out of six Texans are uninsured even though they are working," Navar said.
They expect they could see up to 50 patients a day.
"The need is incredible, if one out of six people in this town don't have insurance, we are going to have plenty of work here," he said.
Those doctor's visits aren't low cost care but rather no cost at all.
"Zero cost care," Navar said. "You do not have to prove any financial need, just have to tell me you are uninsured and we will see you no charge, no cost, plus we have a prescription assistance program to help folks afford pills. We received a very generous grant from a donor here in Corpus Christi that has allowed us to set up this clinic that will provide free general medical care to uninsured and under served populations here."
Get this, their team of doctors and specialists are all volunteers.
"A lot of doctors have called us, 'Hey I hear you are opening a new clinic', they called us looking for opportunities to volunteer," he said.
They're going beyond just routine visits thanks to a partnership with Texas A&M's Coastal Bend Health Education Center that will assist with a wellness program, healthy cooking classes and even diabetes education.
They'll start seeing patients Jan. 22, but you can schedule your visit ahead of time starting Jan. 15 on their website at compassionateclinic.org.
They do plan to have a night clinic and they're also looking for volunteers to serve as translators and to help at the front desk.
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