GAINESVILLE - Even though the grand opening for the new Hall County Government Health Center won't be held until Saturday, the clinic already is open to patients.<br />
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Hall County Human Resources Director Bill Moats updated commissioners Monday afternoon at the first work session of 2015, telling them that patients were waiting at the door when the clinic opened for business Monday at 7:30 a.m.<br />
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"As of 1 o'clock, we had seen seven patients in the clinic and 18 appointments had been scheduled," said Moats.<br />
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In addition, the pharmacist had transferred 50 prescriptions for employees and anticipated that number would double by the end of the day.<br />
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Moats said employees also will be able to purchase over-the-counter medications at a savings through the HCG pharmacy. He said he did some comparison shopping, noting price differences on seven different products.<br />
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"I went to CVS and Rite Aid and compared the prices in our pharmacy," said Moats. "If you go get 200mg tablets of Advil - 24 to a box - in our pharmacy, it's $3.18; at CVS and Rite Aid, it's $4.79 and $4.99. That doesn't sound like a lot if you're buying one item, but if you're buying enough of those items over the course of a year, a dollar or two dollars is going to add up."<br />
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The clinic, located in the old East Hall Library Branch, was renovated to the tune of $60,000, with all of the work being done by inmate labor. Dr. Philip Marler, retired from the Longstreet Clinic, has been hired as the staff physician for the HCG Clinic.<br />
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Full time employees of Hall County, as well as their immediate family members, and county retirees, are allowed to use the clinic. Moats estimated about 3,300 people would be eligible to use the clinic and pharmacy services.<br />
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<i>Note: The Grand Opening Ceremony of HCG Family Health Center is scheduled for Saturday, January 10 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. The Center is located at 2434 Old Cornelia Highway in Gainesville.</i>
