Why Ethnē? Why Clarkston?
The city where we’re beginning, the city where we live, is Clarkston, GA. It’s known for some amazing things: Refuge Coffee, Fugees Academy, and Friends of Refugees. It's also gotten national attention in being deemed one of the most diverse square miles in America thanks to the many refugees and immigrants who have made Clarkston a home away from home. Over fifty percent of our population is foreign born! Our home is truly beautiful because of the richness of cultures represented. As for health care, Clarkston is in proximity to large medical systems and several volunteer based clinics. Despite the efforts of these institutions, many of our neighbors have little or no access to a primary care doctor. That’s because in our area, many people walk or use public transportation. Many have either no insurance, or don’t know how to use it very well (and honestly, how many of us actually do?!?) Additionally, about 25% of our neighbors live at or below the federal poverty level. The demand for care exceeds the capacity of those already here serving the need. Less than 10% of the people living in and around Clarkston have access to primary care. At Ethnē Health, we believe that should not be. Our desire is to help bridge the gap of healthcare access in our community. We want more of the community to be cared for, loved by, and listened to by someone who can help them in pain or sickness. Our patients are incredibly valuable and deserve excellent, high quality service. We plan to be present for ongoing care and to serve as a medical home for our patients. We aim to be open mornings, evenings and weekends. We want to see babies and kids, their moms and dads, and grandparents—whole families! We plan to take patients who have great insurance and those with no insurance. Additionally, we plan to provide services for mental health and prenatal care. We want to see everyone. We want to see your family and you!
Maybe you know people who have been inhibited by language or cultural barriers in accessing medical help? We will strive to provide services in all of the main languages spoken by our patients and hope to have employees who are multilingual and representative of different ethnic groups in our neighborhood. We are a faith-based clinic that desires to care for our patients' spiritual health in a way that is genuine and also respectful. We plan to create a space where people can come to be supported in their health within their own community, by people who live in their community. That’s why we do life here. We want to be your neighbors. Not just your doctors or nurses. We want to be a part of your lives everyday—at the coffee shop, at the park, at the grocery store too. So that’s us. And why we’re here. Salam neighbors!
