Low-cost medical clinic in Southern Dallas County helping fill need

Every first and third Wednesday, the St. Paul Medical Clinic in Lancaster bustles with activity, addressing a pressing need in the community since its opening a few months ago.

“This area is clearly lacking in medical services,” remarked Luis Gonzalez, CEO of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. “The significant patient influx we’ve observed underscores the critical role this clinic plays, especially for those who lack access to medical care.”

Partnering with Dr. Mayra Jimenez Thompson and Dr. Jeffrey Thompson, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul established this low-cost community medical clinic near Lancaster’s St. Vincent Center. Patients pay a flat fee covering everything from doctor consultations to lab tests.

“It’s $35,” stated Jimenez Thompson. “However, if someone can’t afford it, we never turn them away.”

Lucinda Torres, a patient, visited the clinic after a ten-year gap without seeing a doctor.

“I found out I was diabetic,” revealed Torres, surprised by the diagnosis.

“We’re diagnosing preventable diseases,” noted Jimenez Thompson. “This is why people are dying prematurely.”

The clinic primarily serves the “working poor,” uninsured, and under-insured individuals.

“I haven’t had insurance for a while,” Torres shared. “It’s a bit expensive for me right now.”

Jimenez Thompson emphasized that early detection of medical issues can lead to significant cost savings later on.

“When I immigrated to this country, my parents paid in cash, but it was still affordable,” Jimenez Thompson recalled. “Somewhere along the line, medical care became unaffordable.”

“The cost prevented me from seeing the doctor, knowing how much I’d have to pay out-of-pocket and not being able to afford it,” Torres lamented, explaining her ten-year hiatus from medical care. “It’s devastating.”

With assistance from the St. Paul Medical Clinic, Torres is revamping her diet and accessing free prescriptions through the charitable pharmacy of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

“These patients truly appreciate our care,” said Jimenez Torres. “And we care deeply for them.”

Jimenez Torres expressed hope for expanding the clinic’s operating days beyond the first and third Wednesdays and aspires to serve as a model for other low-cost community clinics.