JASPER, Texas — The Jasper hospital district is getting two new clinics that will serve the needs of the county.
The two clinics will be in Jasper and Brookeland. The Jasper Hospital District Board tells 12News that more health care options are desperately needed to meet the need of the community.
For years Jasper County residents have been forced to make lengthy drives to Beaumont, Lufkin and even Shreveport for their medical needs. But now Dr. Richard Pham says that's all going to change soon.
"In the past 20 years, there have been no new primary care physicians that have entered Jasper," said Dr. Pham, who is Clinical Director at the Primary Care Pavilion.
The Primary Care Pavilion is one of the two new clinics coming to the county in September. The other is Total Care at the Lake in Brookeland.
Dr. Pham says the clinics will be the health care revival that the county desperately needs.
"Primary care has been so underserved, and the community is in dire need. Patients ask us every day 'when are you opening?'," Dr. Pham said.
Primary Care Pavilion will have a large lobby with a room full of private cubicles.
"We take care of 95% of medical problems, pediatrics, all vaccinations, we're looking to doing wound care, physicals, all types of primary care," said Dr. Pham.
Dr. Ron McMurry is the president of the Jasper Hospital District Board. He says they've been pushing for primary care options for Jasper and the surrounding area for years.
"The children's clinic is already up and running. We've got 42 employees hired already. And the total budget of our employees is going to be about 3.1 million. PA's, receptionists, nurses," Dr. McMurry said.
Jasper Hospital District Board Vice President Rodney Norsworthy is encouraging everyone to come out and meet the incoming physicians on Friday, August 23 at the J.L. Lanier building.
"We're going to try and continue to bring better services here. Not just service, but better services," said Norsworthy.
Efficient 24-hour care will be just a stone's throw away for Jasper residents.
"We just can't wait to get the doors open!" Dr. Pham said.
In addition to the two new clinics coming to Jasper next month, board member James Gunter says they are soon beginning construction on both a local pain management clinic and a dermatology clinic.