New MercyMed clinic breaks ground on Second Avenue
Just before ground was broken Wednesday afternoon for the expansion of MercyMed on Second Avenue, 10 preschool students from Truth Spring Academy sang "This Little Light of Mine."
Slightly altering one of the verses, they sang in choppy unison: "I'm gonna take this light around the neighborhood and I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine."
It was fitting. And as the children sang, the sun finally broke through the overcast sky.
MercyMed, founded by Dr. Grant Scarborough, is a faith-based charitable clinic whose mission is to serve the uninsured and underserved in the Columbus area. The clinic backs up to North Highland, a poverty-stricken neighborhood about two miles north of downtown Columbus.
The clinic, which opened in 2012 in a former Columbus Bank and Trust branch office, is about to double its footprint and expand its offerings. The work is being done by Ben B. Gordy Construction Co. of Columbus.
In addition to the pediatric and family health services currently offered, MercyMed will offer dentistry and vision care in the new health center.
The expansion has been made possible by a $1.5 million fundraising effort that stared in 2013. The clinic is trying to raise an additional $200,000 to $400,000 for a dentist office and furnishing, said MercyMed Director of Development Billy Holbrook.
"The most important number to us is one," Scarborough said. "And that is the one person who is sitting in front of us. And MercyMed, we treat one person at a time."
One of those people is 60-year-old Beverly Thornton, who lives in North Highland.
"I could not have made it without this clinic," she said. "I don't have insurance, and I am no longer employed. They have saved my life."
Thornton, called Miss Cookie by the clinic staff, was one of the first patients in 2012.
"They were willing to see me," she said. "They got all of my medicines right."
When she sees Scarborough, she sees the face of hope and love.
"From Day 1 when I first met him, I knew he was God sent," Thornton said.
MercyMed works in partnership with Columbus Regional Health and St. Francis Hospital.
"MercyMed is critical to this community," said Columbus Regional Health President and CEO Scott Hill.
"If you look at where health care is going now, the reality is we have to get patients in the right setting. Many of MercyMed's patients come to our emergency room, and quite honestly, that is the worst place they can go. They need to be in a medical setting like MercyMed."
Since MercyMed opened, about 31,000 patients have visited the clinic. Scarborough said the expansion could not have happened without the generosity of the community.
"I know this, and you know it as well, we couldn't do this without our friends in the community," he said.
This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 9:51 PM with the headline "New MercyMed clinic breaks ground on Second Avenue."