The MyChildren’s primary care clinic at 8330 Abrams celebrated its opening with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, August 7. A 6-year-old patient did the honor. The ceremony’s attendees included Christopher J. Durovich, president and CEO of Children’s Medical Center, District 10 councilman Jerry Allen and Lake Highlands pediatricians Dr. Michelle Le-Pugeda and Dr. Veronica Acosta.
The clinic is the ninth opened by Children’s Medical Center of Dallas following the completion of an Oak Cliff office earlier this summer.
Children on Medicaid will be able to receive services such as immunizations, wellness exams, nutrition counseling and minor emergency treatment at this office.
The location was strategically chosen, according to Durovich. A pharmacy sits next door, the parking lot in front is free, and there is a bus stop down the street. This area, near the intersection of Abrams and Royal, was one that demonstrated need, housing about 100,000 people in a two-mile radius, says Durovich. In planning, a team considered patient demographics, local pediatric offices, and the most common neighborhoods for patients using the emergency department for non-emergency issues.
“Many families resort to the emergency department at Children’s for low-acuity conditions such as runny noses, ear infections or sore throats. These conditions are really better taken care of in the pediatrician’s office,” says Dr. Ray Tsai, medical director of MyChildren’s. “By expanding our MyChildren’s locations, we will better manage these populations of patients, and we will provide the right care at the right place at the right time for thousands of kids across North Texas.”
MyChildren’s joins Healing Hands Ministries and another Lake Highlands clinic currently being built, all focused on assisting low-income families.