There’s a new health clinic in town, and it’s not like many others in the area.
Oak Street Health, which focuses on adults using Medicare, opened its doors on Broadway four months ago. And word is getting out that it’s a unique place for seniors, as well as anyone else who receives Medicare.
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“I just love this place. I’m very comfortable here,” Josephine King, 85, of Gary, said as she walked out of her first appointment at the clinic. “I just started here, but this is great — the doctor listens to you, you’re not rushed and everyone has a smile.”
Her visit coincided with the recent open house staged for prospective patients.
Outreach associate Michelle Thomas offered a presentation for visitors, answered questions and conducted clinic tours.
“We want to be a one-stop shop for the senior’s health care and others on Medicare,” she said. “We offer many services, such as a Medicare navigator to help answer questions about Medicare, which can be confusing. We want the patients to know what they may be entitled to.”
Thomas said doctors housed in the clinic — primary care physicians Dr. Kenya Everette and Dr. Wayne Williamson — do not double and triple book appointments, so there is no long wait for patients. “We believe that the patients should spend more time with their doctor, not to be rushed,” Thomas said.
Unique in this health center is an in-house laboratory and continuous social activities held in the community room. Patients also enjoy other benefits such as free transportation to appointments (when eligible) and computer classes.
Activities are offered five days a week, and there’s always good attendance, according to Thomas.
Crusetia Jackson of Gary brought her mother, Racel Equihua of Gary to the open house.
“I didn’t know they had all these things going on,” Jackson said, as she looked over a calendar listing the weekly activities. “They have quite a few interesting things for the seniors to do.”
Equihua agreed, adding, “This (facility) is a wonderful outlet for the seniors. Not just for the health care but the extras they give too.”
Those extras on the calendar range from game days and arts and crafts to stepping class and bingo offered five days a week.
There are advantages to the facility being privately owned, Thomas told those gathered at the open house: “Patients can keep their specialist (doctors) if they prefer, and also can choose their hospital.”
Outreach director Ty Brown is pleased that Oak Street Health is becoming recognized, but believes there is much work to be done in the community.
“Our senior population is so underserved,” she said. “We don’t lack in community resources, however, those resources need to be marketed to seniors. Not all of them engage in social media.”
Mike Reardon, supervisor for the Oak Street Health van drivers, who shuttle eligible patients to and from their appointments, said Oak Street is not like other health clinics.
“Some patients aren’t able to drive because of their limitations, and others may not have a car or anyone to drive them here,” he said. “They are very appreciative that we offer this service, and we’re happy to help them.”
Fifteen additional employees round out the staff at this Gary location.
After the presentation and a short video, Thomas took the group on a tour of the facility. They observed the nurse’s stations, examination rooms, in-house laboratory and community room, where the weekly events are held.
Plans call for an in-house pharmacy, according to Thomas.
Oak Street Health has 15 locations: one in Gary, one in Hammond, two in Indianapolis and 11 in the Chicago area.
For more information about Oak Street Health in Gary at 4900 Broadway, call 219-237-5170. For information about the Hammond location at 5818 Columbia Ave, 219-237-5160.
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Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.