Medical Clinic
In November of 2005 the Choctaw Association voted to begin a free medical clinic for the uninsured low-income residents of our county. During the winter and spring of 2006 a clinic administrator, medical director and board of directors were enlisted and approved.
The Crossroads Center Medical Clinic Board of Directors met for the first time in June 2006 to organize and begin to develop the medical mission. They have met once each month since then to supervise the work of the clinic. Choctaw Association contributed $32,000.00 to help the clinic get started.
A clinic manager was hired in October 2006 and Ft. Walton Beach Medical Center has donated space for Crossroads Center until a permanent home can be secured. The clinic opened for its first patients on January 20, 2007 and has remained busy ever since.
For several months we saw patients on Saturday mornings only. In late Spring of 2007 we began seeing patients on Wednesday mornings also. Beginning August 27, 2007, the Okaloosa County Health Department provided additional medical personnel that enabled the clinic to open three full days and two half days a week.
Crossroads Center filed its first report to the State of Florida for the fiscal year July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2007. According to that report the value of services donated to the community for the year was $980,847.41. We had 318 patients cared for by 25 active, licensed health care providers who donated a total of 772 hours. We had 20 office volunteers who gave 1,326 hours of time. Churches, individuals, businesses, private and public organizations donated monies, pharmaceuticals, labs, x-rays, equipment, office space and services valued at $864,158.39.
Crossroads Center recently relocated to 444 Valparaiso Parkway in Valparaiso. It is in Building C on the First Baptist Church campus. The community is invited to tour the facilities at the Open House on Sunday, June 7, 2 - 5 p.m.
The Board of Directors continues to pray for guidance as doors open to new ministry areas. We covet the prayers and support of each member of the Choctaw Association as we endeavor to minister to Okaloosa County. We ask that the Association pray specifically regarding the construction issues with our permanent home, and that the medical community would continue to embrace our ministry and provide an abundance of volunteers, equipment and other support.
Crossroads Center Medical Clinic Board of Directors
Mickey Hawkins, BoD president
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