By CATHERINE DONNELLY
Special to the PRESS
Forget driving to Brownsville or Harlingen for routine medical care for minor fractures, cuts, lacerations, stings, illnesses, and other minor situations requiring medical attention. Once the Family Wellness Clinic at South Padre Island opens this summer, visitors and residents of the island and surrounding communities can access their healthcare right on SPI.
“Our clinic will be a haven for comprehensive care — designed to cater to the unique needs of Island residents,” said Wesley Robinson, MSN, RN, Regional Chief Nursing Officer for Prime Healthcare Region III, which also owns Harlingen Medical Center (HMC), Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco and Mission Regional Medical Center.
According to a press release from HMC, South Padre will be getting a new health clinic at the site of Dr. Ybarra’s office, which is currently closed for renovations. According to Robinson, the licensure, insurance approvals, and renovations for Family Wellness Clinic should be done by summer, allowing them to open for business.
“We are excited about the Family Wellness Clinic at South Padre Island and look forward to serving the residents and visitors of the South Padre/Laguna Madre area with their healthcare needs,” said Candi Constantine-Castillo, HMC’s CEO.
Patients will be able to get routine checkups, sports physicals, Medicare or well-woman exams, COVID-19 vaccines, other immunizations, and preventative screenings. They will also receive treatment for minor injuries, lacerations, and musculoskeletal injuries, as well as a mole, skin tag, and wart removal procedures. Patients will be able to manage their diabetes, high blood pressure, and other chronic conditions and receive referrals to specialists as necessary.
In-office lab testing will provide quicker results for Group A Strep, Influenza, Mononucleosis, the PTT/INR Test (Prothrombin Time and International Normalized Ratio), and UA (Urinalysis). Occupational care services will include drug screenings, pre-employment physicals, and Department of Transportation (DOT) physical exams.
“The lack of convenient healthcare Is a reason why someone would think twice before visiting or moving to SPI,” said Robinson, “Having the new clinic open for primary care patients will help build a case for the need for higher levels of healthcare, like urgent care and eventually emergency care, on the island.”
The new clinic will provide essential primary care services for adolescents and adults, with appointments and walk-in patients accepted. It is affiliated with the award-winning Harlingen Medical Center, which gives medical personnel access to all the specialists of the larger facility.
Robinson added, “Our team of experienced healthcare professionals will be here to support you through every stage of life.”
The Family Wellness Clinic will be located at 3401 Padre Boulevard, on the bayside at the corner of W. Bahama Street and will accept most insurances. According to Robinson, a cash payment plan will be available for service workers. It will start by being open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Same-day appointments will be available, and patients will be able to book appointments online for added convenience. For more information, call (956) 365-1515 or visit www.HarlIngenMedicalCenter.com.
According to Robinson, the Family Wellness Clinic will partner with the city of SPI to help with needs on evenings and weekends and will use a needs-based paradigm to plan future expansion of hours and services.
Harlingen Medical Center is a nationally recognized and award-winning general acute care hospital. The Level IV Trauma-Designated hospital specializes in bariatrics, cardiovascular, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine, gastroenterology, imaging, orthopedics, primary care, and wound healing care. HMC’s concept of “Patient-Focused Care” puts the patient first.
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