by Jennifer Leigh Paccione
Inside the walls of Grace Medical Home, it’s a given that you will always get top-notch medical care by some of the best providers in the area. This means they will address all your health needs thoroughly—from reviewing your medical history, explaining lab results in depth, setting up specialist appointments, and even scheduling in-house mental health counseling. But that’s only ONE kind of care you’ll find at Grace.
Inside Grace you will sense the heartfelt care for you, the whole person. I forged strong relationships from day one. From the moment you walk through the doors and are greeted by volunteers, to getting checked in by the warm, welcoming front desk staff, to being personally escorted to your appointment, to your time spent with your nurses and doctors, to the time you leave, your spirits will be lifted. Grace contains the loving care because the love of Christ is embedded in their mission. This place is like no other medical facility; nowhere else I know of has a patient, no matter how sick or injured, feeling a sense of value and spiritual fulfillment.
I know because I was a patient at Grace for about 5 years.
During my time at Grace Medical Home, I was on food stamps and my daughter was on Medicaid because my income was low, yet I wasn’t eligible for Medicaid and couldn’t afford insurance. Thankfully, Grace took me in as a patient. Along with dealing with health issues such as high blood pressure, asthma, and back/neck problems, I managed to attend graduate school thanks to the care I got from them.
Throughout my time as a patient, I got to know many of the staff on a first-name basis. Receptionist Dorothy would smile and greet me and check me in for my appointments. She would always take the time to talk, ask how my family was doing, and even, at times, ask if I needed prayer for anything. That meant the world, as many times I walked through Grace’s doors with a hurting body, coupled with a heavy heart or burdened mind. Lisa, my nurse, always gave me the gift of her beautiful smile every time I came in, and took the time to chat and laugh with me. Dagmar is a true pro when it comes to drawing blood, and her smile and warmth were always welcome every time that needle was drawn. Dr. Carter always took the time to listen to my concerns and explain diagnoses and courses of treatment in a loving way. I was invited to pray with Pastor Omar after my exams, which is unheard of in today’s day and age, but moments like that made all the difference in my life and level of care.
Even my time with my mental health counselor, Laurin, was both precious and invaluable, as she helped me navigate through emotional and family struggles. She prayed with me and listened through some tough trials, and rejoiced with me through my physical and emotional victories. Within Grace’s walls, I never was made to feel like just a charity case, I was respected and cared about as a fellow child of God. There was always a sense of love and care inside every lobby, waiting area, and exam room.
I now hold a Master’s in Fine Arts from Stetson University, have my own small business, and am no longer on government assistance. I couldn’t have done it all without Grace Medical Home. I am eternally grateful for the love, support, and care that I have been given, and hope to pay it forward with the gifts God has given me to help others.
It’s no coincidence that you can’t spell the word “grace” without “care.”
Because that’s what they’re all about here.
