New Medical Center Goes Up in Lexington
A special new medical center goes up in Lexington with a mission to help the city’s Somali and Latino minorities. The construction of the Family Medicine Specialist Clinic is almost complete.
City leaders saw other similar communities had many more health resources so they knew they had to do something. The 2.5 million dollar facility is adjacent to Lexington Regional and will serve anyone even those who don’t yet speak English.
“The very first word I knew was xanuun, which means pain,” said Doctor Fran Acosta-Carlson, one of the primary care physicians at the new facility. A word doctors hear often from Somali patients who walk into Lexington clinics. “When you want them to sit down, you say fadhiiso and if you want them to lie down you say jiifsan.”
Dr. Acosta–Carlson said it’s tough to try to care for the patient and learn a new language at the same time but that’s what she’s willing to do to help save lives in Lexington’s diverse community. “At this point we have smattering of words, but even that is important to the patient because they are amazed that we know as much as we do.” That’s the point of this building a place where patients without much English can find doctors who speak their language.
Don Young, the Director of Ancillary Services at Lexington Regional explained the unique set up of the medical center. “The way this building is set up you will come into the reception area where you can be checked in and then there are four waiting areas one for each provider so once you actually check in you go to that specific waiting area for that doctor or provider.” Young added this makes a visit to the doctors more private. There will be four primary health givers in the 8,000 square foot new building next to the hospital.
Doctor Acosta–Carlson is among many bi–lingual physicians people will find at the new facility. “There are some of us who are trying really hard to learn Somali.” Although, Lexington Regional does have interpreters on hand at all times she has learned a bit of Somali. Many physicians, nurses and receptionists also know Spanish. “I think it’s just a matter of caring for them and teaching them that we are um that we want to care for them and that we do care about them as well,” said Dr. Acosta-Carlson.
The city has found three of the four health care providers to fill the new facility. The building will open up July 14, 2014.
The west side of the hospital is also seeing a $32,000 square foot addition which will be complete in a year and a half.